CO129-295 - Public Offices - 1899 — Page 603

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
Series Prev Next

CONFIDENTIAL.

26632/99

EASTERN

No.

COLONIAL

OFFICE

[September 22.]

SECTION 1.

599

lii

with respect to foreign affairs

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant, Francis Bertie

Lord,

No. I.

Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury

(Received September 22.) American Embassy, London, September 22, 1899.

I AM instructed by the Secretary of State to present to your Lordship a matter which the President regards as of great and equal importance to Great Britain and the United States in the maintenance of trade and commerce in the East, in which the interest of the two nations differs not in character, but in degree only, and to ask for action on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which the President conceives to be in exact accord with its uniformly declared policy and traditions, and which will greatly promote the welfare of commerce.

He understands it to be the settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use any privileges which may be granted to it in China as a means of excluding any commercial rivals, and that freedom of trade for it in that Empire means freedom of trade for all the world alike. Her Majesty's Government, while conceding by formal agreements with Germany and Russia, the possession of "spheres of influence or interest" in China, in which they are to enjoy special rights and privileges, particularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises, has, at the same time, sought to maintain what is commonly called the "open door" policy, to secure to the commerce and navigation of all nations equality of treatment within such "spheres." The maintenance of this policy is alike urgently demanded by the commercial communities of our two nations, as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will prove existing conditions, enable them to maintain their positions in the markets of China, and extend their future operations.

While the Government of the United States will in no way commit itself to any recognition of exclusive rights of any Power, within or control over any portion of the Chinese Empire, under such Agreements as have been recently made, it cannot conceal its apprehensions that there is danger of complications arising between the rival Powers which may imperil the rights insured to the United States by its treaties with China.

It is the sincere desire of my Government that the interests of its citizens may not be prejudiced through exclusive treatment by any of the controlling Powers within their respective "spheres of interest" in China, and it hopes to retain there an open market for all the world's commerce, remove dangerous sources of international irritation, and thereby hasten united action of the Powers at Peking to promote administrative reforms, so greatly needed for strengthening the Imperial Government and maintaining the integrity of China, in which it believes the whole Western world is alike concerned. It believes that such a result may be greatly aided and advanced by declarations by the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and commerce therein, and that the present is a very favourable moment for informing Her Majesty's Government of the desire of the United States to have it make on its own part, and to lend its powerful support, in the effort to obtain from each of the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China a declaration substantially to the following effect:-

1. That it will in nowise interfere with any Treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory it may have in China.

2. That the Chinese Treaty Tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandise, landed or shipped to all such ports as are within such "sphere of interest" (unless they be "free ports") no matter to what nationality it may belong, and that duties leviable shall be collected by the Chinese Government.

3. That it will levy no higher harbour dues on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such "sphere" than shall be levied on vessels of its own nationality; and no higher railroad charges over lines built, controlled, or operated, within its "sphere" on merchandise belonging to citizens or subjects of other nationalities transported through such "spheres" than shall be levied on similar merchandise belonging to its own nationals, transported over equal distances.

[2184 g-1]

Edit History

2026-05-31 12:58:49 · NVIDIA / meta/llama-4-maverick-17b-128e-instruct
Live
View comparison
AI Proofread
CONFIDENTIAL. 26632/99 EASTERN No. COLONIAL OFFICE [September 22.] SECTION 1. 599 lii with respect to foreign affairs Sir, Your most obedient, humble servant, Francis Bertie Lord, No. I. Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury (Received September 22.) American Embassy, London, September 22, 1899. I AM instructed by the Secretary of State to present to your Lordship a matter which the President regards as of great and equal importance to Great Britain and the United States in the maintenance of trade and commerce in the East, in which the interest of the two nations differs not in character, but in degree only, and to ask for action on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which the President conceives to be in exact accord with its uniformly declared policy and traditions, and which will greatly promote the welfare of commerce. He understands it to be the settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use any privileges which may be granted to it in China as a means of excluding any commercial rivals, and that freedom of trade for it in that Empire means freedom of trade for all the world alike. Her Majesty's Government, while conceding by formal agreements with Germany and Russia, the possession of "spheres of influence or interest" in China, in which they are to enjoy special rights and privileges, particularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises, has, at the same time, sought to maintain what is commonly called the "open door" policy, to secure to the commerce and navigation of all nations equality of treatment within such "spheres." The maintenance of this policy is alike urgently demanded by the commercial communities of our two nations, as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will prove existing conditions, enable them to maintain their positions in the markets of China, and extend their future operations. While the Government of the United States will in no way commit itself to any recognition of exclusive rights of any Power, within or control over any portion of the Chinese Empire, under such Agreements as have been recently made, it cannot conceal its apprehensions that there is danger of complications arising between the rival Powers which may imperil the rights insured to the United States by its treaties with China. It is the sincere desire of my Government that the interests of its citizens may not be prejudiced through exclusive treatment by any of the controlling Powers within their respective "spheres of interest" in China, and it hopes to retain there an open market for all the world's commerce, remove dangerous sources of international irritation, and thereby hasten united action of the Powers at Peking to promote administrative reforms, so greatly needed for strengthening the Imperial Government and maintaining the integrity of China, in which it believes the whole Western world is alike concerned. It believes that such a result may be greatly aided and advanced by declarations by the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and commerce therein, and that the present is a very favourable moment for informing Her Majesty's Government of the desire of the United States to have it make on its own part, and to lend its powerful support, in the effort to obtain from each of the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China a declaration substantially to the following effect:- 1. That it will in nowise interfere with any Treaty port or any vested interest within any so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory it may have in China. 2. That the Chinese Treaty Tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandise, landed or shipped to all such ports as are within such "sphere of interest" (unless they be "free ports") no matter to what nationality it may belong, and that duties leviable shall be collected by the Chinese Government. 3. That it will levy no higher harbour dues on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such "sphere" than shall be levied on vessels of its own nationality; and no higher railroad charges over lines built, controlled, or operated, within its "sphere" on merchandise belonging to citizens or subjects of other nationalities transported through such "spheres" than shall be levied on similar merchandise belonging to its own nationals, transported over equal distances. [2184 g-1]
Baseline (Original)
INA TRADE. NFIDENTIAL. 26632/99 EASTERN No. OLONIAL CO USE OFFICE [September 22.j SUOTION 1. 599 lii respect to foreign affair's ១ a Sir, Your most obedient, humble dervant, Francis Bertie Lord, No. I. Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury (Received September 22.) Autericon Embassy, London, September 22, 1899. I AM instructed by the Secretary of State to present to your Lordship a matter ich the President regards as of great and equal importance to Great Britain and the nited States in the maintenance of trade and commerce in the East, in which the terest of the two nations differs not in character, but in degree only, and to ask for tion on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which the President conceives to be exact accord with its uniformly declared policy and traditions, and which will reatly promote the welfare of commerce. He understands it to be the settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use by privileges which may be granted to it in China as a means of excluding any com- mercial rivals, and that freedom of trade for it in that Empire means freedom of trade r all the world alike. Her Majesty's Government, while conceding by formal reements with Germany and Russia, the possession of "spheres of influence or terest" in China, in which they are to enjoy special rights and privileges, par- cularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises, has, at the same time, sought maintain what is commonly called the open door" policy, to secure to the-com- erce and navigation of all nations equality of treatment within such "spheres." The maintenance of this policy is alike urgently demanded by the commercial com- amities of our two nations, as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will prove existing conditions, enable them to maintatn their positions in the markets of dina, and extend their future operations. While the Government of the United States will in no way commit itself to any cognition of exclusive rights of any Power, withia or control over any portion of the hinese Empire, under such Agreements as have been recently made, it cannot aceal its apprehensions that there is danger of complications arising between the aly Powers which may imperil the rights insured to the United States by its reaties with China. It is the sincere desire of my Government that the interests of its citizens may be prejudiced through exclusive treatment by any of the controlling Powers thin their respective "spheres of interest" in China, and it hopes to retain there an ben market for all the world's commerce, remove dangerous sources of international ritation, and thereby hasten united action of the Powers at Peking to promote ainistrative reforms, so greatly needed for strengthening the Imperial Government maintaining the integrity of China, in which it believes the whole Western orld is alike concerned. It believes that such a result may be greatly aided and dvanced by declarations by the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and commerce herein, and that the present is a very favourable moment for informing Her Majesty's Government of the desire of the United States to have it make on its own part, and to end its powerful support, in the effort to obtain from each of the various Powers laiming "spheres of interest" in China a declaration substantially to the following ffect:- within any 1. That it will in nowise interfere with any Treaty port or any vested interest so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory it may have in China. 2. That the Chinese Treaty Tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandize, aded or shipped to all such ports as are within such "sphere of interest" (unless ey be "free ports") no matter to what nationality it may belong, and that duties leviable shall be collected by the Chinese Government. 3. That it will levy no higher harbour dues on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such "sphere" than shall be levied on vessels of its own nationality-and no higher railroad charges over lines built, controlled, or operated, within its "sphere " on merchandize belonging to citizens or subjects of other nationalities transported through such "spheres" than shall be levied on similar merchandize belonging to its own nationals, transported over equal distances. [2184 g-1]
2026-05-31 12:58:49 · Baseline
View content

INA TRADE.

NFIDENTIAL.

26632/99

EASTERN

No.

OLONIAL

CO

USE

OFFICE

[September 22.j

SUOTION 1.

599

lii

respect to foreign affair's

១

a

Sir,

Your

most obedient,

humble dervant, Francis Bertie

Lord,

No. I.

Mr. Choate to the Marquess of Salisbury

(Received September 22.) Autericon Embassy, London, September 22, 1899.

I AM instructed by the Secretary of State to present to your Lordship a matter ich the President regards as of great and equal importance to Great Britain and the nited States in the maintenance of trade and commerce in the East, in which the terest of the two nations differs not in character, but in degree only, and to ask for tion on the part of Her Majesty's Government, which the President conceives to be exact accord with its uniformly declared policy and traditions, and which will reatly promote the welfare of commerce.

He understands it to be the settled policy and purpose of Great Britain not to use by privileges which may be granted to it in China as a means of excluding any com- mercial rivals, and that freedom of trade for it in that Empire means freedom of trade r all the world alike. Her Majesty's Government, while conceding by formal reements with Germany and Russia, the possession of "spheres of influence or terest" in China, in which they are to enjoy special rights and privileges, par- cularly in respect to railroads and mining enterprises, has, at the same time, sought maintain what is commonly called the open door" policy, to secure to the-com- erce and navigation of all nations equality of treatment within such "spheres." The maintenance of this policy is alike urgently demanded by the commercial com- amities of our two nations, as it is justly held by them to be the only one which will prove existing conditions, enable them to maintatn their positions in the markets of dina, and extend their future operations.

While the Government of the United States will in no way commit itself to any cognition of exclusive rights of any Power, withia or control over any portion of the hinese Empire, under such Agreements as have been recently made, it cannot aceal its apprehensions that there is danger of complications arising between the aly Powers which may imperil the rights insured to the United States by its reaties with China.

It is the sincere desire of my Government that the interests of its citizens may be prejudiced through exclusive treatment by any of the controlling Powers thin their respective "spheres of interest" in China, and it hopes to retain there an ben market for all the world's commerce, remove dangerous sources of international ritation, and thereby hasten united action of the Powers at Peking to promote ainistrative reforms, so greatly needed for strengthening the Imperial Government maintaining the integrity of China, in which it believes the whole Western orld is alike concerned. It believes that such a result may be greatly aided and dvanced by declarations by the various Powers claiming "spheres of interest" in China as to their intentions in regard to the treatment of foreign trade and commerce herein, and that the present is a very favourable moment for informing Her Majesty's Government of the desire of the United States to have it make on its own part, and to end its powerful support, in the effort to obtain from each of the various Powers laiming "spheres of interest" in China a declaration substantially to the following

ffect:-

within

any

1. That it will in nowise interfere with any Treaty port or any vested interest

so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory it may have in China. 2. That the Chinese Treaty Tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandize, aded or shipped to all such ports as are within such "sphere of interest" (unless ey be "free ports") no matter to what nationality it may belong, and that duties leviable shall be collected by the Chinese Government.

3. That it will levy no higher harbour dues on vessels of another nationality frequenting any port in such "sphere" than shall be levied on vessels of its own nationality-and no higher railroad charges over lines built, controlled, or operated, within its "sphere "

on merchandize belonging to citizens or subjects of other nationalities transported through such "spheres" than shall be levied on similar merchandize belonging to its own nationals, transported over equal distances.

[2184 g-1]

Comments

Approved members can add comments, bookmarks, and private notes.

No comments yet.

Private Research Note

Private notes are available after approval.