Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower
Washington, February 1, 1902.
(Mr. Hay states that a telegram has been received from the United States minister to China to the effect that Prince Ching has agreed to sign the convention with Russia relative to Manchuria, as well as a separate convention with the Russian-Chinese Bank concerning exclusive privileges of industrial development in Manchuria.
That the Government of the United States can view only with concern an agreement by which China concedes to a corporation the exclusive right to open mines, construct railways, or other industrial privilege: That such monopoly would distinctly contravene treaties of China with foreign powers, affect rights of citizens of the United States [Page 927] by restricting rightful trade, and tend to impair sovereign rights of China and diminish her ability to meet international obligations; that other powers will probably seek similar exclusive advantages in other parts of the Chinese Empire, which would wreck the policy of absolutely equal treatment of all nations in regard to navigation and commerce in the Chinese Empire; and that, moreover, for one power to acquire exclusive privileges for its nationals conflicts with assurances repeatedly given to the Government of the United States by the Russian ministry for foreign affairs of firm intention to follow the policy of the open door in China as advocated by the United States and accepted by all the powers having commercial interests in China.
That the Government of the United States, animated now, as heretofore, by the sincere desire to insure to the whole world full and fair intercourse with China on equal footing, submits the foregoing considerations to the Governments of Russia and China, with confidence that due weight will be given to them and such measures be adopted as will relieve the just and natural anxiety of the United States.
Mr. Tower is directed to communicate the sense of the above to the Russian minister for foreign affairs.)