Mr. Hay to Mr.
Conger.
Department of State,
Washington, January 3,
1903.
No. 606.]Sir: Referring to your telegram of the 16th
ultimo I have to say that the Department does not think that there is
any ground on which
[Page 47]
the
Government of the United States could take any action against the
arrangement being made between the Russian and Chinese Governments for
the establishment of customs stations at Talienwan and some interior
Manchurian points, or against the post-office service in the same
country. The only point with which we can be concerned is that the
duties levied at these places do not exceed the regular tariff duties
levied at all other points in the Chinese Empire open to foreign trade.
That the customs stations to be created should be under Russian
commissioners is most natural. There being a number of Russians in the
imperial maritime customs service, it would seem but natural that they,
or some other Russians, should be employed in these offices.
* * * * * * *
The letter of the Russian minister of foreign affairs to our ambassador
at St. Petersburg, under date of the 18th of December, 1899 (see
Correspondence Concerning American Commercial Rights in China, p. 17, a
copy of which is herewith inclosed), defines pretty clearly the position
of the Russian Government respecting the creation of customhouses in the
leased territory in China.
You will watch the arrangements that may be reached between China and
Russia on this subject, and should they in any way prove a menace to
American interests and violate in any way the treaty provisions, you
will take such action as the circumstances may require and your
experience dictate.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
Count Mouravieff to Mr. Tower.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
December 18–30, 1899.
Mr. Ambassador: I had the honor to receive
your excellency’s note, dated the 8th-20th of September last,
relating to the principles which the Government of the United States
would like to see adopted in commercial matters by the powers which
have interests in China.
In so far as the territory leased by China to Russia is concerned,
the Imperial Government has already demonstrated its firm intention
to follow the policy of “the open door” by creating Dalny
(Ta-lien-wan) a free port; and if at some future time that port,
although remaining free itself, should be separated by a customs
limit from other portions of the territory in question, the customs
duties would be levied, in the zone subject to the tariff, upon all
foreign merchandise without distinction as to nationality.
As to the ports now opened or hereafter to be opened to foreign
commerce by the Chinese Government, and which lie beyond the
territory leased to Russia, the settlement of the question of
customs duties belongs to China herself, and the Imperial Government
has no intention whatever of claiming any privileges for its own
subjects to the exclusion of other foreigners. It is to be
understood, however, that this assurance of the Imperial Government
is given upon condition that a similar declaration shall be made by
other powers having interests in China.
With the conviction that this reply is such as to satisfy the inquiry
made in the aforementioned note, the Imperial Government is happy to
have complied with the wishes of the American Government, especially
as it attaches the highest value to anything that may strengthen and
consolidate the traditional relations of friendship existing between
the two countries.
I beg you to accept, etc.,
