Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-13
TREATY NOW A FACT
Ratifcations Exchanged Of
Chinese Convention.
PORTS TO BE OPENED
CoNSULS FOR MOUKDEN AND
ANTUNG SELECTED.
Will Be Made When Con-
gress Has Made the Provision
Necessary In the Matter.

Secretary Hay today added the finishing
touch to the Chinese-American treaty when
he exchanged ratifications of that conven-
ton at the State Department with Sir
Chentung LANG Cheng. the Chinese min
lister here. The treaty Is now an accom-
plished fact; 1t remains only to proclaim it
and appoint the necessary consuls at Mouk-
den and Antung. the two Manchurian ports
which are now opened to trade. The Presi-
dent has already selected these consuls
from men Of experience in the consular
service and consequently able to open up
the new field to trade with the least pos
sible delay. Their names will be sent to
the Senate just as soon as Congress makes
provision for their employment and salary.
AS no political question enters into this
matter the State Department is hopeful
that the necessary congressional action Will
be taken without opposition and very
speedily. It is regarded as desirable that
such rights as the United States govern
ment has acquired in Manchuria as to China
will be fully established and asserted in ad-
vance Of any possible war that might affect
that vast territory to the extent OF
change Of sovereignty.
The Ceremony Of Exchange.
The ceremony of exchange took place at
the State Department by appointment at IL
o'clock today. The Chinese minister was
accompanied by his secretary. Everything
had been arranged and Mr.. Conger had no
titled the State Department that the
Chinese government placed an exchange
copy Of the treaty in his hands yesterday.
That action is held to be equivalent to the
delivery of the document to the United
States government, as required by the
treaty itself. So Secretary Hay and the
Chinese minister Joined today in the sig
nature of the protocol reciting the fact that
ratification had been exchanged.
The Chinese minister will be given copy
Of the treaty by the State Department,
which he will forward to his government
for deposit in the imperial archives in Pc
Washington it will also be placed in the
State Department library, and the transac-
ton will be consummated.
Provisions Of the Treaty.
The Chinese-American treaty was nego-
tiated under the provisions of the protocol
signed by China and the powers at Peking
September Z, 1901, settling the various ques-
tions which resulted from the Boxer out
break in the preceding year. The treaty
has for its object the extension Of the COM
mercial relations between the two powers
by amending the existing treaty of COM
merce and navigation between the United
States and CHINA.
Articles I, II and III refer to the rights
and privileges of American diplomatic Off
cials and consuls and citizens of the United
States in China. and embody number OF
changes which have been sanctioned by
usage in China since the treaty of 1858.
Opening Ports to Trade.
Article HI has developed into what is
thought the most important article of the
treaty on account of Russia's continued
occupation of Manchuria and the threat
ened war in the far east. 1t provides for
the opening to international trade in the
same conditions and manner as at other
places now opened to like trade in China
OF the cities of Feng-Tien-Foo CMukden)
and An-Tung, the first the capital Of the
Manchurian province Of Sheng-Ching and
tho latter a port on the Yalu river on the
road between Mukden and Wi-ju, Corea
Next to this article. the most important
II thought to be article ". By 1t the
Chinese government undertakes after the
ratification Of the treaty. and at a date to
be mutually agreed upon. to abandon the
levy Of transit dues throughout the empire,
and to abolish all the barriers and tax sta
tions maintained for the collection Of these
dues.
The United States in consideration Of this
change, agrees, If all other powers having
treaties with China do likewise, to pay at
the ports of entry on all its imports into
the tariff import duty. By this payment
American goods are to secure immunity
from all other taxation within the Chinese
empire. Exports from China are to pay
whole amount Of the duty to be collected
at the port Of exportation.
American Bonded Warehouses.
establishment Of bonded warehouses by
c;t af ha
BY article VII China agrees within year
from the signing of the treaty to conclude
the revision of its mining regulations so
that citizens of the United States may be
able to carry on in Chinese territory min
ing operations and other necessary business
connected Herewith.
Articles TX and x provide. respectively,
for the protection of trade marks and pat
ents By article XIII China agrees to take
the necessary steps to provide for uni
form national coinage, which shall be legal
tender throughout the empire.
Protection Of Missionaries.
Article XIV relates to Chinese Christians
and missionaries. 1t insures to the former
the free exercise of their religion and pro-
tects them against injustice on the part Of
native officials. 1t does not, however, re-
move the native Christians from the juris-
diction of the Chinese authorities, or pro-
vide for the missionaries the right OF In
reference with the officials jurisdiction.
To the missionaries 1t secures what they
have long sought. the right to rent and
lease in perpetulty such property as their
societies may need In all parts Of China.
At China's request an article was added
to the treaty by which America consents to
the prohibition Of the importation into
China of morphia and instruments for its
injection.
State Department Notified.
Sir Chentung Liang Chens. the Chinese
minister here. called upon Acting Secretary
Of State Loomis late yesterday afternoon
and informed him that he had received a
cable dispatch from Peking stating that
tho emperor had fixed his seal to the
Chinese-American treaty, and, further, that
he had acceded to the request OF the Amer
lean government, through Minister Conger,
for the Immediate exchange Of ratffications.
The minister's advices induced the State
Department to change the plan 1t had form
ed earlier In the day to await the arrival
of the mail copy of the treaty.
Steamship Arrival.
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