nere. ight to establish courts outside of treaty ports or leased prehend that under her right of extraterritoriality she ourts at the treaty ports, and if established may clothe ction and prescribe whatever rules of practice she may ed States and other foreign powers do. I think, thereany treaty or other agreement between the United States if any American wishes to invoke the aid of a Russian erever Russia has established such court. nchurian situation, this is a matter of such importance Department of State for such action at St. Petersburg or at advisable. E. H. CONGER. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, March 31, 1903. to opening Ta-ku shan as a treaty port, I have e following data confidentially obtained from a tified town about 9 miles from the mouth of the Ta-yang of from 30,000 to 40,000. From here lumber, beans, s are exported by junks to various ports north of Shangnd hundreds of vessels passing up and down the river, but ovember till the beginning of March. In March, 1900, a ng along the coast, 30 miles south of the river's mouth, depth of the river is 14 feet at the bar, and 7 or 8 feet springtide it reaches 20 feet, and vessels of middle size up to the town. At the time of the Japan-China war cons were used by the Japanese army for transportation does not seem to be a very promising place for at the mouth of the Yalu River, Consul Miller ch small steamers run the year through, doing considerand Chefoo. The principal trade is in timber, although ilk, beans, bean oil, bean cake, and grain are exported. place, while Ta-ku shan is on the decline. I understand eet can enter the harbor at Ta-ku shan. The opening of no doubt result in considerable development of trade. the boundary line between China and Korea. s upon both sides, and considerable coal is said ibutaries, and opposite Ta-tung-kou is the rather n of Wiju. uld be opened to foreign trade railroads would to connect with the Russian railway on the one e other. t of importance to this locality, the Korean mintrying to negotiate with the Chinese Governjoint arrangement as to the important lumber he river, both from Manchuria and Korea. It appears to me, therefore, that Ta-tung-kou would be a more desirable treaty port than Ta-ku shan. Mukden is the capital of Shengking, the residence of the Tartar general and the official center of the province, and ought to be opened, but I suggest that we endeavor to have Harbin opened also. It is the great railway center and junction with the main line of the Siberian Railway, situated on the Sungari River, has a large foreign popula sion, mostly Russian, and is undoubtedly to be the great interior metropolis of Manchuria. I inclose a copy of a dispatch from Consul Miller with further interesting information upon the subject. If you approve the above suggestions, I will thank you to so telegraph me on receipt of this dispatch. I am sending a copy of my dispatch to Messrs. Goodnow and Seaman. I have, etc., E. H. CONGER. [Inclosure.] Mr. Miller to Mr. Conger. No. 167.] CONSULATE OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have to acknowledge your dispatch No. 1794, of the 18th instant. In reply I beg to say that there are two places of considerable importance to trade on the southeast coast of Manchuria, viz, Ta-ku shan, at the mouth of the river Ta Yang-ho, and Ta-tung-kou, at the mouth of the Yalu. Ta-tung-kou is an open port, to which small steamers run the year through, doing considerable business with Tientsin and Chefoo. The principal trade is in timber, although considerable silk, beans, bean oil and bean cake, and grain is also exported. Ta-tung-kou is a growing place, while Ta-ku shan is on decline. I understand that steamers drawing 12 feet can enter the harbor at Ta-tung-kou. The opening of this as a treaty port would no doubt result in considerable development of trade. Concerning the question of which is best to open as a treaty port, Mukden or Harbin, I should say Harbin by all means. Harbin is situated on the river Sungari, where it has the advantage of river navigation by steamers; it is at the junction of the railway, and is the center of railway administration for all Manchuria. All of the main officials of the railway and the head offices are located there. It is in the center of a very rich and extensive agricultural country, susceptible of wonderful development. It already has a greater foreign population than any place in Manchuria, more foreign business firms, and is certain to become a great center of foreign influence and trade, whether opened as a treaty port or not; and if it is not so opened, our citizens will have no rights or privileges there. In this connection I beg to point out to you some difficulties in the situation. All the land along the river and the railway, extending several miles back each way from the railway station, has been purchased by the Chinese Eastern Railway and held so as to preclude the leasing or ownership of land to anybody but Chinese and Russians. The high Chinese officials have assisted the Russians in this scheme. This holds true of many other places as well as Harbin. The only available land for settlement at Harbin is, therefore, held by the railway company, and other nationals are allowed there only at the pleasure of Russia and can not become landowners. This city will practically remain under Russian official authority. It is sure to become the main business city in the interior of Manchuria, and it is of great importance to our trade that we should have official representation there. Manchurian trade lines will be changed materially by opening of the railway to traffic, as well as because of the new growth by increased immigration, and Harbin is certain to be the place that will grow most from these changes. Mukden's trade is more likely to grow less rather than greater, and it will not become the center of any foreign trade. It will be the official city for this part of Manchuria and will be prominent only from that standpoint. It is so near to Niuchwang that its foreign trade interests are directed from this port. If made a treaty port, its chief value would be as a residence of foreign officials to maintain equitable relations between the different foreign interests. If only Russian officials live and associate with the Chinese governorgeneral and the officials about him, the Russian influence will dominate and monopolize all foreign relations. To counteract this it appears to me that it is quite essential that our country should have a consul-general, who could arrange to spend a considerable time each year at each of the capitals of the three provinces. I have, etc., * HENRY B. MILLER, Consul. Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, April 18, 1903. (Mr. Conger reports that Niuchwang is not yet evacuated; that the Russian minister alleges as reason for the delay unfinished negotiations for permanent sanitary commission under Russian domination.) No. 1270.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. [Confidential.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, April 18, 1903. SIR: I have the honor to confirm my telegram of to-day. The period during which the second portion of Manchuria was to be evacuated by the Russians terminated on the 8th instant. From many places the troops have been withdrawn, some to Port Arthur and some to other garrisoned places in the vicinity of the railway, but none, it is reported, being take out of Manchuria. Some have been removed from Niuchwang, but 200 are still left there, and the administration of the place has not yet been turned over to the Chinese authorities. The Russian minister tells me that the reason for delay is that they (the Russians) insist upon some effective and permanent sanitary commission-composed probably of the foreign consuls, the taotai, commissioner of customs, and a Russian doctor-being first organized in order that they may be assured in the future of such quarantine regulations as will prevent the spread of cholera or plague through Niuchwang along their railway into the interior. (Mr. Conger reports that the Russian Government demands the following new conditions before evacuating Manchuria: No new treaty ports or foreign consuls allowed; no foreigners, except Russians, to be employed in the public service; status of administration same as before; Niu chwang customs receipts to be deposited in Russian-Chinese Bank; sanitary commission to be dominated by Russians; privilege of attaching wires to all telegraph poles; no territory ever to be alienated to any power. The Chinese Government refused to comply with the conditions. Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay acknowledges Mr. Conger's telegram of the 23d instant, and instructs him to insist on the request of the United States for treaty ports and consulates in Manchuria, and make our objections. known to second clause, excluding all foreigners but Russians from Chinese service. Discussion of other points is reserved.) Mr. Hay to Mr. Conger. [Telegram.-Paraphrase.] DEPARTMENT OF STATE, (Mr. Hay states that the Russian minister for foreign affairs says reports of proposed convention between Russia and China relating to Manchuria are wholly untrue; that the Russian Government has no intention to exclude other countries from advantages now enjoyed in Manchuria, or to confer monopolies upon Russians; that nothing will be done to close open door or hamper American commerce; same assurances given at Washington by Russian ambassador.) No. 1283.] Mr. Conger to Mr. Hay. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, Peking, April 29, 1903. SIR: I confirm my telegram of the 23d, and your reply of the 25th instant. On yesterday I had a conference with Prince Ch'ing, at which, besides handing him the note, a copy of which I inclose, I told him that China had, as a part of the general settlement growing out of the troubles of 1900, made an agreement with Russia concerning Manchuria, in which the other powers were more or less interested, and it was the duty of the Chinese Government to see to it that that agreement was executed by both Russia and China in a way which would not jeopardize or destroy the vested rights of the other powers, and that whatever might be the demands of Russia, the Government of the United States would expect that all its rights be respected. Prince Ching then informed me that he had demands, refusing compliance with every one. replied to the Russian He said he presumed that Russia would now decline to withdraw her troops, but that the Chinese Government would still refuse compliance, and trust to future negotiations and possibly the good offices of friendly powers to help them out of the difficulty. He verified in substance the demands as I wired them to you, and added that Russia demanded, besides an agreement, that no land should be purchased or leased in Manchuria, particularly in the vicinity of Niuchwang, and in the valley of the Liao River, by any foreigners except Russians. He said the condition as to present status of administration mentioned in my telegram referred to Mongolia, where the Chinese had in view several reforms which were intended to materially strengthen and centralize the system of public administration, and this the Russians do not want. The British chargé d'affaires has, by instruction of his Government, served a notice upon the Chinese Government warning it of the danger of accepting the Russian demands. The Japanese minister has served both a note of warning and a protest. YOUR HIGHNESS: I have the honor to inform your highness that it has been reported to the United States Government that the Russian Government is demanding new and additional conditions for the further evacuation of Manchuria, as follows: "No new treaty ports or consuls allowed; no foreigners, except Russians, to be employed in the public service; status of administration same as before; Niuchwang customs receipts to be deposited in Russian-Chinese Bank; sanitary commission dominated by Russians; privilege of attaching wires to all telegraph poles; no territory ever to be alienated to any power;" and that the same are at present under consideration by the Chinese Government. In view of this my Government has instructed me to insist upon the opening of the treaty ports which have already been requested by the commissioners of the United States in the treaty negotiations now being carried on at Shanghai, and the appointment of consuls thereto after they have been opened. It has also instructed me to make known to your highness its serious and valid objections to the exclusion of citizens of the United States from employment in any Chinese service to which Russians or other nationals are of right admitted, and to say that it reserves all its rights as to any other points which may be considered in the reported negotiations. Trusting that your highness will appreciate the importance of these suggestions by my Government, and will preserve for China the freedom which they indicate, I improve, etc., Mr. Goodnow to Mr. Hay. E. H. CONGER. SHANGHAI, May 2, 1903. (Mr. Goodnow reports that the Chinese commissioners, having no instructions from Chinese Government, decline to discuss the opening of Manchurian ports; that he has telegraphed the United States minister at Peking.) |