The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-10-13

russian NegOtiations-Other Pro-
visions of the Treaty.
Washington. October S.-The state
department was informed today that
the American-Chinese commercial
treaty has been signed At Shanghai and
tnat the JapaneSe-ChineSe treaty will
be signed this afternoon. The cable.
gram announcing the signing of the
treaty was sent from Shanghai and
vas signed by Minister Conger, Con-
sui General Goodnow and Mr.. Sea-
man, the commissioners who will ne
gotiate the instrument. An imperiaI
decree by the Chinese has
made the treaty effective so far as
that government is concerned but If
must be ratified by the United States
senate before notifications can be ex-
changed n h treaty put in opera
tor.
Great satisfaction is expressed at the
state department at h. outcome. as
it makes certain that the two ports
in Manchuria will be onened to the
United States regardless of the out
come OF the negotiations for the eyac-
uatlon OF that country by Russia.
The assurance that Russia aad prev
louSly given, and to which this gov
eminent would insist upon adherence,
is that the treaty arrangements made
with China covering Manchuran ports
Will be binding Upon the Russian gov
The negotiations between China and
the United States, which culninated
IN the treaty signed today at :hang-
hal, were initiated under the Irovis-
ions OF Article NJ. Of the final protocol
signed by the powers at Pekin Oh Sep
TENDER 18th, 1901, terminating the anti
foreign outbreak Of the preceding ear.
The present treaty has for it's OBJECT
to extend the commercial relations be-
tween the contracting powers by
amending our existing treaty of Gem
merce and navigation with China, md
other subjects concerning commercial
relations with the object of facilitatng
them.
Articles 1, II, and III refer to the
rights and privileges of diplomatic of.
ficers, Isl and citizens of thu
Unite" States in him and embody
number of changes which have beer
sanctioned by usage in China since
the treaty of 1858.
Article VI. is the most important C
the treaty. BY it the Chinese govern,
ment, recognizing that the present
system Of levying dues upon goods il
transit II especially the system OF
taxation Known as likin, impedes the
flee circulation of commodities 10 the
general injury of trade, Undertakes
after the ratification of the treaty anC
ct a date to be mutually agreed upon
to abandon the levy of lekin and other
transit dues throughout the empire
and to abolish all the barriers and
tax stations maintained for their col,
lection. The United States, in CON
slderation of this change agreed, if al
other powers having treaties with
China do likewise, to pay at the port
Of entry on all it's imports in to China
a surtaX of 1 IL times the tariff i'm
port duty. By this payment, they
shall @ecure complete immunity from
all other taxation whatsoever within
the empire. Exports from China shall
pay I IL ner I'D valOrem. Gas al
presently, the whole amount of the
duty being collected at the port of eX-
pOrtatiOn.
These are the salient points Of this
article which officials believe may
bring about q complete and salutary
~ III liz cNAO4A "a
the empire and enable the central gov
eminent to derive much larger sums
from the internal taxes than 1t now
does, when the cost Of collection Is
perhaps 90 per cent. of the whole.
The remaining provisions Of Article
VI. relate to the method to be follow
ed in a~bOlishing the present fnternal
tax levying system; it limits the
places where native custom houses can
y. oo;o+oinal rrn,-;Iar Fnr on roc
Of identification for foreign imports
the treatment Of Chinese machine
made goods which are Il enjoy a re
bate on the import tax, and exemption
from export tax. Finally. il provides
the method Of investigation of com
plants and declares hat an imperial
edict shall he issued. at a date to be
hereafter fixed. setting forth the abOli-
ton Of likin taxation and charging
the various high officials Of the EN-,
pire with carrying it out.
BY another article. the Chinese gov
eminent agrees TO the establishment
Of bonded warehouses by citizens o.
the United States at the open ports
Of China.
BY Article VII. the Chinese govern,
ment. agrees. within a year to permit
citizens of the United States to carry
on in Chinese territory mining opera
tons n other necessary DuSlfleS!
connected Herewith.
Articles TX. X. and XII, provide 70,
the protection Of trademarks, patent!
and copyrights respectively in China
BY Article MIL. the Chinese gov
eminent agrees TO take the necessar!
steps to provide for a uniform ma
tional coinage. which shall be a lega
tender throughout the empire.
Article XIV. relates to Chimes
Christians and to missionaries. 1t in
sures to the former the free exercise
Of their religion and protects then
against the Injustice Of the native
officials. while not. however, removing
them from their jurisdiction or claim
ing for American missionaries tn
right to interfere with the exercise:
of the native authorities of their juris
diction over their nationals. To tn
missionaries. it secures what they