Show = = = = = = = OPEN OO Ol It will be Maintained by AIr AI-r the Powers lit UNCLE SAM STARTED MOVE w Correspondence Had with Governments Govern-ments of Other Nations on this Questionis SubmiCtocl o Congress Powers Addressed were Great Britain Germany Russia Trance Italy and Japan Correspondence Covered Period from September Gth Last Until 20th Inst i Washington March 27 Secretary nay today submitted to Congress tho correspondence had with the Governments Govern-ments of1 other nations respecting the maintenance of an open door in china The correspondence extended over n period of time from September lith last to the 20th lust the last dale marking the successful completion of the undertaking The nations addressed on this subject were Great Britain France Germany Russia Italy and Japan On September Septem-ber 6th the Stale department addressed tb our Ernhtisaadors at London Berlin and St Petersburg copies of a formal declaration selling out the desires of our Government in the matter of the open door Italy and Japan weie similarly addressed about a reonth I later JrterWhile While the formal declarations sent I to the Embassadors were similar In each case yet each of the officers adopted a different phraseology In addressing ad-dressing themselves to the Governments Govern-ments to which they are accredited the dominant note being best sel forth perhaps per-haps In the form of conveyance chosen by Embassador Choate In his noteto he British Government which was us I follows EMBASSADOR CHOATES NOTE My LordI am Instructed by the Secretary of State to present to your Lordship a matter which the President Presi-dent regards as of great and equal Importance Im-portance to Great Britain and the maintenance of trade and commerce In the East in the interesl of the nations differ not In character but in degree only and to ask for action on the part of her Majestys Government which the President conceives lo be In exact accord with the uniformly declared policy pol-icy and traditions and which will greatly promote the welfare of commerce com-merce lie understands t lo be Ihe settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use any privilege which may be granted toIt In China as a means of excluding any commercial rivals and that freedom of trade for it In that empire em-pire means freedom of trude for all the vv orld alike Her Majestys Government while conceding by formal agreements with Germany and Russia the possession posses-sion of splieres of Influence or inter j est In China in which they are lo enJoy en-Joy special rights provides particularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises en-terprises and has at the same time sought to maintain what is commonly called the opendoor policy to secure to the commerce and navigation of all nations equality of trealment within Hiieh spheres The maintenance of this policy Is also urgently demanded by the commercial communities of our two nations as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will improve existing conditions enable them to maintain their positions In the markets mar-kets of China and extend their future operations DANGER OF COMPLICATIONS While the Government of the United States will In no way commit Itself tot to-t any recognition of the exclusive rights t of any power within or control over any part of the Chinese empire under such agreements as have been recently made It cannot conceal Us apprehension apprehen-sion that there is danger of complications complica-tions arising between the treaty pow era which may Imperil the rights Insured In-sured to the United Stales by its treaties trea-ties with China It Is the sincere desire of my Government Gov-ernment that the inlercsls of Its citizens citi-zens may not be prejudiced through exclusive ex-clusive treatment by 1 any of the controlling con-trolling powers within their respective spheres of interest in China and it i hopes to retain there an open market for all the worlds commerce remove dangerous sources of Internulonal Irritation Irri-tation and thereby hasten united ac lion of the powers at Pekin to promote administrative reforms HO greatly needed need-ed for strengthening the imperial Government Gov-ernment and maintaining the Integrity Of China In which it believes the whole1 Western world Is alike concerned It believes that such a result may be greatly aided and advanced by declarations declara-tions by the various powers claiming spheres of Interest In < tuna as to their Intentions In regard to the treatment of foreign trade and commerce therein and that the present Is u very favorable moment for informing her Majestys Government of the dealiv of the United Slates to have It make on Its own part and to lend Its powerful support In the effort to obtain from each of the various va-rious powers claiming spheres of Interest In-terest in China a declaration substantially substan-tially to the following effect DECLARATION SUGGESTED First That It wilt In no wise Inter fore with any treaty port or any vested vest-ed Interest within any socalled sphere of interest or leased territory It may have in China Second That the Chinese treaty tar iff of the time being shall apply to all merchandise landed or shipped to all I Buch ports as are In such spheres of Interest unless they be free ports no nuttier to what nationality It may be long and that duties so leviable shall be collected by the Chinese Government Govern-ment S Third That it will levy no higher duties on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port In such spheres than shall be levied on vessels of its I own nationality and no higher railroad charges over lines built controlled of operated Within Its sphere on merchandise S mer-chandise belonging to citizens or sub jects of oIlier nationalities transported through such sphere than shall be levied on similar merchandise belong Jug to Its own nationalities transported over equal distance CZAR AND KAISER AGREE The President has strong reason to believe that the Governments of both Russia and Germany will cooperate In un understojidhrg as In here proposed The recent ukase of his Majesty the S 33niperor of Russia declaring the port of TallenWan open to the merchant ships of all nations during the whole term of lease under which It is to be held by Russia removes all uncertain ty OB to the liberal and conciliatory policy of that power and Justifies the expectation that his Majesty would accede ac-cede to the similar request of the United States now being presented to 3Im and make the desired declaration Thc ecenl action of Germany in de1 during the port of Kaio Chou a free port and the aid l which Us Government Govern-ment has given Chlnu In establishing there a Chinese cuslombou e coupled vvltli oral assurances given the United S States by Germany that iho Interests ° C tIn TJnItcd Stales and Its cltlxena within Us sphere would In no wine be I affected by the occupation of this pox S tion of the province of Shnn Tm r n couragcs the belief that little oppos tlon Isto be anticipated to the rresl dcntB request for a similar declaration from that tower i JAPAN INTERESTED It Is needless also toadd that Japan the power next most largely interested in-terested In the trade of Chlrin must bo in entire sympathy with the views here expressed and that its Interest will bs largely served by ihe proposed arrangement ar-rangement and the declarations of its 1 statesmen within the last year are HO I entirely In line with U that the cot co-t operation of that power Is confidently i relied upon I It it I therefore with the greatest pleasure that 1 present this matter to I your lordships attention and urge K I prompt consideration by her Majestys I Government believing that the action la In entire harmony with Its consistent t theory anil purpose and that it will greatly redound to the benefit and advantage I ad-vantage of all commercial nations alike The prompt and sympathetic cooperation coopera-tion of her Majestys Government with the United States In this Important matter will be very potent in promoting promot-ing its adoption by all the powers con cerned11 GREAT BRITAIN COINCIDES J Just a week after the receipt of Ibis i Important communication Lord Salisbury I Salis-bury acknowledged Its receipt In a note I promising to consult his colleagues on the proposition and in the meantime assuring as-suring Mr Choate thai lie policy consistently S con-sistently advocated by this country is I one of securing equal opportunity for I the subjects and cillzens of all nations I in regard lo commercial enlerprise in China and from this policy her Ma jestys Government has no Intention or desire to depart A month later came the formal answer an-swer of the British Government under date of November 30 1SH9 In the fol lowng language addrepsed to Mr Choate 1 I have much pleasure Informing your Excellency that her Majestys Government will he prepared to make a declaration in the sense desired by your Governmcnl In regard to the leased territory of WelHalWel and all tcr rllory in China which may hereafter be acquired by Great Britain by lease or otherwise and all spheres of Interest now held or that may hereafter be held In China provided that similar declaration declara-tion Is made by other powers concerned con-cerned A note of acknowledgment was the remaining letter In lie British series Mr Choate expressing the gratification of thV Secretary of Slate at the cordial acpeptancc by the British Government of the proposals of the United States t NOTE TO GERMANY Jin the case of Germany while forwarding for-warding the same declaration 0 s was submitted to the British Government the phraseology was somewhat varied In this case Mr Hay refers to assurances assur-ances given by the Berlin Government through our Embnssador when Germany Ger-many leased KaloChou and adjacent territory in ShanTung thai our treaty privileges conferred by China would not be Infringed or Impaired Still as the exact nature and extent of certain railway rail-way and mining privileges In thai cotm liy made the subject of a treaty be tweeu Germany and Great Britain hud not been clearly defined the declaration declara-tion is presented for approval by Ocr many because it Is possible that serious seri-ous conflicts of interest may it any tliiie arise not only between British and German subjects within said area biiL that the interests of our cItizens may also be jeopardized thereby The German Government Is also reminded thai the Emperor of Russia has made a declaration of his purpose to open Ta lienWan and ihe cooperation of Great Britain and Japan Is confidently expected GERMANYS RESPONSE Under date of December 4th Charge Jackson at Berlin cabled the first German Ger-man response as follows 1 have Just had a conversation with lie Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs who staled that the politics of Germany In the extreme ex-treme Orient are de facto the politics Xjf the open door and Germany proposes to maintain this prlnciploln the future Germany does not wish lie question become the subject of controversy between be-tween the different powers engaged In China She thinks it would be advantageous advan-tageous for the United Stales Government Govern-ment lo confer with other European Governments having Interests in China If the other cabinets adhere lo the proposal pro-posal of the United States Government Germany will raise no objection and Germany Is Avilllng to have the Government Govern-ment of the United Stales inform these other cablnels that no difficulty will come from her if the other cabinets agree SIt S-It was February lOlh before lie formal for-mal answer of lie German Government came based upon a promise that satisfactory satis-factory written replies had been received re-ceived by the Government of lie United States from all the other powers ad dressed Complying with the wish lo give its answer In writing Count Von Buelow wrote as follows SECOND REPLY FROM GERMANY I have the honor to Jnform your Excellency Ex-cellency repeating the statements made verbally as follows As recognized by the Government of the United States of America according lo your Excellencys lote referred to above Hit Imperial Government has from the beginning not only asserted but also practically carried out to the fullest extent In Us Chinese possessions absolute equality of treatment of nil nations with regard lo trade navigation and commerce T hc imperial Government entertains no thought of departing In the future from tills principle which at once excludes any prejudicial or disadvantageous commercial trealment of the citizens of the Lnlicd Slates of America so long as it Is not forced lo do so on account of considerations of reciprocity by a divergence from U by other Governments Govern-ments If therefore the other powers interested In the Industrial develop ment of the Chinese empire are willing to recognize the same principles this can only be desired by the Imperial Government which In this case upon being requested will gladly be ready to participate with the United States of America and the other powers in an agreement made upon these lines by which the same rights are reciprocally securedINViTATION INVITATION TO RUSSIA The Invitation to Russia to subscribe To the agreement was prefaced by a recital of the Russian assurance that American interests in that part of China would not be affected by the lenso o Port Arthur TnllenAVan and I adjacent territory and a slalemenl that however gratifying such an assurance I might be the business world of the United States much desired a further Clearer and more formal definition Tho Russian answer reciting the promises to Dalny TallenWan which It had redeemed by opening that port pledges Itself In the following language PLEDGE OF THE CZAR AS to the ports now opened or hereafter here-after lo be openedto foreign commerce by theClUnCse Government and which lie beyond the terrItory leased to Russia Rus-sia the settlement or the question of custom duties belongs1 to China herself and the Imperial Government has no In tention of claiming any privileges for Us own subjects as to lie exclusion of j foreigners It Is to be understood how ever i that this assurance of the imperial I im-perial Government Is given imon Con L dition that a similar declaration shall I bo made by other powers having In tercsts in China With the conviction that this reply Is such as to satisfy the inquiry made In I the aforementioned note the Imperial I Government is happy lo have compiled I with the wishes of the American Government Gov-ernment especially as It attaches the I highest value to anything that may strengthen and consolidate the Iradl I tlona1 relations of friendship extsUnE I between the two countries I FRENCH NOTE BRIEF ONE I The French note was exceedingly I brlif TI was received December mil last from M PelraMe the Minister 01 Foreign Affairs by rcmbaswuior Porter Por-ter and Is as follows The declarations which I made ° In the chamber on the LM th of November last and which I Iliad accaslon to recall to you since then show clearly the sentiments of lie Government Gov-ernment of the republic It desires throughout the whole of China and with the quit natural reservation res-ervation that all lie powers interested give an assurance of their willingness ito ito i i-to atL likewise1 Js ready lo apply in the territorieswhich art leased to It equal treatment to the citizens and subjects S J I of all nations especially In the matter I of custom duties and the navigation J duties as wl as transporlallon tariffs on railways ITALY RESPONDS Italy was addressed on Ihe subject November ITLh In view of the Important Import-ant and growing interests of Italy In Eastern A siu January 7th of the present year after the Italian Government Govern-ment had been duly Informed that all the other powers had glen a favorable reply Count Venesta pledged Italy In this language I lake pleasure In sayIng say-Ing that the Government of Italy adheres ad-heres willingly to the proposals set forth In said note of December Olh J TWO NOTES FROM JAPAN The coirespondence of Japan was I made up of two notes the t Invitation I and the answer The pledge was put by Mlnlsler of Foreign Affairs Sluxo Is as follows I have lie happy duty of answerIng I answer-Ing your Excellency that the Imperial I Government will have no hesitation to give their assent to so Just and fair a proposal of Ihe TTnl ted Slates provided thai all the powers conccincd shall accept ac-cept tle same CLINCHED THE AGREEMENT The last act In the negotiations that which clinched lie agreement was the dispatch to our diplomatic representatives representa-tives at the capitals of the several countries i coun-tries concerned of Identical Inslruc UOIIB couched In the following terms I Department I of State Vishihuit Lou I C 4 I March So lfiQQSirlhe Government 1 I having accepted the declaration of lie i United Stiiti concerning lorclKH tnule hi I China the terms of which 1 lrim miile < l Ito I In Instructions No of to you my ii nil like action having been taken by all I the various powers having leased terrl l tory or 5ICdlli sphere of Interest In the Chinese empire as < huwn by l the note which I herewith transmit to yon you will please Inform the Government to which you are accredited that tho I condition originally or-iginally attached to Its acceptance that J all other powers concerned should likewise like-wise iccept I he proposals of the fulled 1 eliaving been complied with tills lovcrniienl will therefore consider tho iIi4sCflL given to It by us final ami deli nlte Von will also transnill lo tho Minister for Foreign Affairs copies of lie pivsent Inelosinv ami by tho Kinno occasion eon icy to aim tho expression of tho sincere gratification which the President feels nt iho successful termination of these negotiations ne-gotiations hi wlileh ho sees proof of the friendly spirit which animates the unanimous unani-mous powers interested in the I untrum meted development of commerce and Industry In-dustry in the Chinese empire and a source of vast benefit to the whole commercial com-mercial world J am etc JOHN HAY |