Open Door
Notes
Department
of State, Washington, September 6, 1899
At the time
when the Government of the United States was informed by that of Germany that
it had leased from His Majesty the Emperor of China the port of Kiao-chao and the adjacent territory in the province of
Shantung, assurances were given to the ambassador of the United States at
Berlin by the Imperial German minister for foreign affairs that the rights and
privileges insured by treaties with China to citizens of the United States
would not thereby suffer or be in anywise impaired within the area over which
Germany had thus obtained control.
More recently,
however, the British Government recognized by a formal agreement with Germany
the exclusive right of the latter country to enjoy in said leased area and the
contiguous "sphere of influence or interest" certain privileges, more
especially those relating to railroads and mining enterprises; but as the exact
nature and extent of the rights thus recognized have not been clearly defined,
it is possible that serious conflicts of interest may at any time arise not only
between British and German subjects within said area, but that the interests of
our citizens may also be jeopardized thereby.
Earnestly
desirous to remove any cause of irritation and to insure at the same time to
the commerce of all nations in China the undoubted benefits which should accrue
from a formal recognition by the various powers claiming "spheres of
interest" that they shall enjoy perfect equality of treatment for their
commerce and navigation within such "spheres," the Government of the
United States would be pleased to see His German Majesty's Government give
formal assurances, and lend its cooperation in securing like assurances from
the other interested powers, that each, within its respective sphere of
whatever influence--
First. Will in
no way interfere with any treaty port or any vested interest within any
so-called "sphere of interest" or leased territory it may have in
China.
Second. That
the Chinese treaty tariff of the time being shall apply to all merchandise
landed or shipped to all such ports as are within said "sphere of
interest" (unless they be "free ports"), no matter to what
nationality it may belong, and that duties so leviable
shall be collected by the Chinese Government.
Third. That it will levy no
higher harbor 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 "sphere" than shall be
levied on similar merchandise belonging to its own nationals transported over
equal distances.
The liberal
policy pursued by His Imperial German Majesty in declaring Kiao-chao
a free port and in aiding the Chinese Government in the establishment there of
a customhouse are so clearly in line with the proposition which this Government
is anxious to see recognized that it entertains the strongest hope that Germany
will give its acceptance and hearty support. The recent ukase of His Majesty
the Emperor of Russia declaring the port of Ta-lien-wan open during the whole
of the lease under which it is held from China to the merchant ships of all
nations, coupled with the categorical assurances made to this Government by His
Imperial Majesty's representative at this capital at the time and since
repeated to me by the present Russian ambassador, seem to insure the support of
the Emperor to the proposed measure. Our ambassador at the Court of St.
Petersburg has in consequence, been instructed to submit it to the Russian
Government and to request their early consideration of it. A copy of my
instruction on the subject to Mr. Tower is herewith inclosed
for your confidential information.
The commercial
interests of Great Britain and Japan will be so clearly observed by the desired
declaration of intentions, and the views of the Governments of these countries
as to the desirability of the adoption of measures insuring the benefits of
equality of treatment of all foreign trade throughout China are so similar to
those entertained by the United States, that their acceptance of the
propositions herein outlined and their cooperation in advocating their adoption
by the other powers can be confidently expected. I inclose
herewith copy of the instruction which I have sent to Mr. Choate on the
subject.
In view of the
present favorable conditions, you are instructed to submit the above
considerations to His Imperial German Majesty's Minister for L Foreign Affairs,
and to request his early consideration of the subject.