The precise plan of the American Government was outlined and its execution undertaken in a circular note of September 6, 1899, which the Secretary of State addressed to London, Berlin, and St.Petersburg.In this he asked the powers to agree to respect all existing open ports and established interests within their respective spheres, to enforce the Chinese tariff and no other, and to refrain from all discrimination in port and railroad charges.

To make such a proposal to the European powers required courage.

In its essential elements the situation in the Far East was not unlike the internal economic condition prevailing at the same time in the United States.

In this country great transportation monopolies had been built up, having an enormous capitalization, and many of them were dependent for their profits on the advantage of price fixing that monopoly may be expected to bring.

Then state and nation stepped in and asserted their right to fix prices in the interest of the consumer.