The Savannah morning news., 1903-07-17
WILL OPEN PORTS
CHINESE GOVERNMENT HAS PROM
ISED THIS.
RUSSIA WILL NOT OPPOSE
THE PURPOSE THAT CHINA HAS
EXPRESSED.

So Far as the United States Are
Concerned, the Manchurian Ques-
ton Is SettIed-It Only Remains
to See What Ports Are Subjected
to the Open Door POIicy-United
states Pursued no Selfish Special
Privilege POIicy-AmericanC Cotton
Interests Are to be Benefited.
Washington, July 16.-The Manchu-
rian question has been settled salts
factorily to this government. Assur-
ances have been received from the
Chinese government that it will in the
near future, open as treaty ports sew
eral ports now closed to the worlds
trade. The Russian government has
conveyed formal assurance to the
United States government that it will
not, in any way, oppose such opening.
While the ports to be opened are not
yet specified it's. gathered from. the
communications received that they are
Mou1den, the principal inland port of
Manchuria,s and Ia Tung Kao, at the
mouth of the Yalu river. G
1t is now known that the negotla-
tons which have terminated so sue
cessfully to-day, so far as broad lines
are concerned, for only details remain
to be adjusted were practically
brought to their present phase by Sec
rotary Hay and Count Cassini at
meeting at the Russian embassy on
June %, the day that the Secretary
departed for Newport, for the ambas-
sador then had in hand the necessary
authorization from his own govern
nent to make the pledges which are
now in process of redemption. These
pledges were reduced to writing by
Mr. Hansen, the Russian charge, dur
ing his call at the State Department
Tuesday.
Terms Up to COnger.
1t remains for Mr.. Conger to define,
in the trade treaty which he is nego-
tiating with China, the terms and con-
ditiOns under which the new ports are
to be opened. 1t may be stated that
had the United States government
cared to pursue a selfish policy in this
matter, it might easily have secured
promises of special privileges from
Russia.
Although no time is mentioned in the
promise to open the ports, it is be-
lieved that this will follow soon after
the Russian evacuation next Septem-
Der.
The prospect gives the keenest sat-
isfaction here, for Secretary Hay has
been for more than two years in
steady pursuit of the open door in
Manchuria. which, he has already
RI
ton interests of the South.
simultaneously with the promise to
open up Manchuria to the worlds
trade comes a report to the bureau of
commerce and labor from United
states Consul Miller at Niu Chwang,
which is so far the only open port in
Manchuria, respecting. the cotton goods
trade of that province. He says that
the great market for cotton goods in
Manchuria is attracting the attention
OF Russian manufacturers at Moscow.
Ihey are trying to capture a good
shsre of the 21,000, 900 'taels ($12,1S0,000)
worth of cotton goods trade that an
nually comes through this port and are
Offering most tempting inducements to
merchants here to so to Moscow to
purchase their supplies
Siberian Railway a Factor.
The completion Of the Siberian rail-
new factor into the great cotton goods
trade of North China, and American
manufacturers must be alive to the sit
uatlon and adjust their business ar
rangement to meet the new conditions,
II they wish to hold their trade.
1he volunteer fleet. heavily subsidized
ny the Russian government, is bring
ing Russian goods to North China at
low freight rates, and these goods are
pelhg entered at Port Arthur and Dali
ny without paying any customs duties;
Oeslde the port charges for ships are
nominal and there are no pilot charges.
A;Herican goods go first to Shanghai,
where customs duties and port charges,
storage and handling are paid, and
tIIeh are reshipped to Niu Chwang,
,W,here freight, pilotage, port and hand
ing charges are again paid. This fleet
consists of fourteen steamers, with a
'Olal tonnage of 3S,4S1 tons