Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1903 — CHINA WILL OPEN TWO PORTS. [ARTICLE]

CHINA WILL OPEN TWO PORTS.

Demands Mado by the United States Are Complied Witb. Minister Conger, at Pekin, has secured 'a written promise from Prince Ching to sign on Oct. 8 a treaty with the United States which will include a guaranty that Mukden and Tatungtao shall be open ports. The arrangement for the signing of the treaty ends the stubborn resistance by the Chinese, which for Home time promised to be successful. Prince Ching made one defense after another until all were exhausted. He first argued Russian opposition to the opening of these ports. He then said that he was not informed that Russia had consented to the opening. Finally he refured on the ground that China was unable to open towns which were held by another power. . When the present settlement was proposed with the explanation > that China must presume that Russia intended to fulfil her evacuation agreement Prince Ching reluctantly gave in. Mukden is an important port. Tatungtao is a small port which does not promise much business to attract foreigners in the near future. Its opening is mainly important as a victory for the open-door principle.