Ambassador Tower to
the Secretary of State.
American Embassy,
Berlin, January 20,
1905.
No. 588.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you
herewith a copy and a translation into English of a note, dated the 18th
of January, 1905, which I have received to-day from the Imperial German
Chancellor, Count von Bulow, in reply to my note of January 14, in which
I communicated to him the contents of your cipher dispatch addressed to
me on the 13th of January, in relation to the integrity of China.
As this note of the chancellor contains a very important statement as to
the position of the Imperial German Government, I have sent you the
substance of it in a cipher telegram this morning. * * *
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure.—Translation.]
The German Chancellor
to Ambassador Tower.
Berlin, January 18,
1905.
Mr. Ambassador: I have had the honor of
receiving your communication of the 14th of January, 1905, in which
you were good enough to set forth the position of your Government in
regard to certain questions raised by the present war between Russia
and Japan. I am extremely gratified to learn by it that the
President and the Government of the United States of America intend
to continue to assist in the maintenance and strengthening of the
policy of the integrity of China and the open door in the Far East
for the benefit of the free commercial intercourse of all nations
and that they have no thought of acquiring territorial rights in the
Chinese Empire.
This view corresponds entirely with that of the German Government,
which has repeatedly declared its adherence to the principles of the
integrity of China and the open door in the Far East. Its purpose is
absolutely to stand by its former declarations. Germany’s position
is defined in the Anglo-German agreement of the 16th of October,
1900, which was communicated at that time to all the powers
interested and accepted by them. In this agreement the Imperial
Government has bound itself to support the principle of the open
door in China wherever its influence may be felt. It is therefore
scarcely necessary to add that the Imperial Government does not seek
for itself any further acquisition of territory in China.
I avail, etc.,
