Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-11

DR.. ]. C.. Ferguson, an American, lately
president of the Nanyang College. Shang-
hal Seven or eight Chinese were added as
advisers, secretaries and Interpreters In
addition to this formidable array, the vice.
roys at Tientsin, Marking and HanlSow
were made ex-officio members of the COM
mission. While these latter did not attend
any meetings of the commission. their as
sent was necessary to each proposition ad-
vanced.
THE English government first sent Sir
James Mackay from India to negotiate a
treaty. After a years work he signed
treaty in September, 1902: but unfortunate
ly its fiscal provisions were not such that
any other government was willing to agree
to it. 81.
A Deadlock
'The Japanese next tried their hand. but
could not agree with the Chinese on sew
eral propositions, and they came to dead
lock in March last and their subsequent
negotiations took place almost entirely in
Peking and followed the various features
of the English and American treaties, and
it was signed on the same day with ours.
I'm the meantime our government had
named Minister sConger, Mr.. J. F. Seaman,
the leading American merchant in China,
with over forty years experience in that
country. and the consul general at Shang-
hal as its commissioners. They began their
work in earnest on March IT, 1903, and
signed the completed treaty on October g.,
1893. at Shanghai. There were in the inter
val SiXty-five meetings a t Shanghai of from
two to five hours each besides number of
informal diSeuss0ns with different ones of
the Chinese commission. Every word Of
the treaty was discussed In fact, Chi
nese commissioner told me after 1t was all
over that he believed it was the first treaty
China had eversfgned after full discussion
| and understanding of all its component
parts. Many changes were made in the
verbiage of our proposals, but the essential
features of the signed treaty are orig
inally proposed bylus
I'VE were instructed to get protection on
certain points: for our growing trade but
not to try to-make any sharp bargains, but
to remember that China's capacity to buy
our products IN large quantities must de-
pend upon an! increase of her earning and
purchasing capacity We were to follow
the policy which Ifasa made, us strong ip
China, Of being absolutely fair and con-
serving Chinese as we'll as American rights
and privileges ..
Under the new treaty get thorough
protection of American trade marks. For
some years we have had partial protection
by the courtesy and sense of justice of the
Chinese authorities BY proclamations of
viceroys, governors and taotais we secured
partial protection which is now assured by
treaty. We did not try to secure general
protection Of our publica TONS but asked
only protection for ten years of those who
do special work, TRANSACTIONS, etc, for the
benefit of the Chinese people. The Chinese
literau are much against copyright. They
say that a sufficient reward for a writer
should be that he is able to give more
knowledge to his fellows. We pledged the
Chinese government to enact patent laws
and as soon $ possible to give protection to
American patents. The fact is that the
Chinese do not make new inventions and
are ignorant OF what Is necessary to en-
courage inventions, and must be gradually
educated on this point. 1t would have been
useless for Us to get an agreement to pro-
tect patents until some at least understand
the subject.
Codified Practice of Missionaries.
'In this treaty we have codifed the prac-
tice of the United States missionaries to-
ward Chinese laws. officials and people.
Missionaries are not allowed to interfere in
lawsuits between Chinese and converts,
must obey the laws of China and pay such
taxes as are levied on their heather neigh
bors. except special taxes for the support
of temples. priests and theatrical perform
ances On the other hand. the Chinese must
not put any hindrance in the way of
Chinese wishing to adopt the Christian re-
ligion and the Chinese authorities must not
differentiate between convert and nom
convert. Leading missionaries, whom we
consulted heartily favored the article on
this subject in our treaty and the Chinese
commissioners told US that as soon as the
treaty comes into operation copies Of our
article will be posted In every public Office
IN the empire 10 SuOW tie true TeIdtlOnS De-
tween foreign missionaries and the Chinese
people and authorities. l am happy to say
that they also told US that they have no
complaint to make against the methods of
American missionary societies but only
praise for their work. especially along medi-
cal and educational lines. There Is no mis-
sionary question far as American mis-
sionaries are concerned.
Mining Regulations.
'In another article the Chinese govern
ment agrees to frame mining regulations
based on those of the United States and to
allow Americans to mine and to carry on
other necessary opera tons relating thereto
throughout the Chinese empire on the
same basis on which Chinese are allowed
to do the same things. The impor lance of
this agreement for the development of
China and of American business Herewith
can hardly bejoyerestimated In the many
centuries of the existence of China her re-
sources have been fully developed in all
lines except in mining. Most largely from
fear of the earth devils, 0engshuD. which
would be released by making cavities I'm the
EARTH the universal resources of the en-
pire have NOT been developed. Millions of
dollars worth of coal are imported from
Japan yearly for the steamer lines and for
manufacturing plants. This Is in spite of
the fact that good coal is known to be in
large quantities tributary by water to
Shanghai. few years ago coal mines
were opened at fJOHSSnan ana at PIngShan.
These have become so well known that they
are an objects lesson to the empire. The
man who opeqeds the Tongshan mines re-
quired for sometime bodyguard to keep
him from being killed for imp;ety. AS the
mines became developed they provided new
work for the people and, consequently,
higher wages throughout the district. About
a year ago they began to erect a temple
to the man who opened the mines as benz
efactor OF the people A few years ago the
viceroy at Marking (who was at Canton
and entertained Gen., Grant during the lat
ter's tour around the WORLD in conversation
with me attributed Americas rapid progress
TO the fact that it Is "a new country and has
virgin resources. He said: China is an old
country and has exhausted her resources
If you can show us virgin resource here
you are a public. benefactor 1 said that
they had a virgin resource under the
ground: that their minerals are as plentiful
and as varied those in the United
States, to the mining of which we owe SO
much OF our prosperity. He said: you are