Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-04-11
DOUBT AND EXPECTANCY.
Attitude of the State Department In
Relation to the Status of
Affairs In China.
MINISTER WI IS EVIDENTLY WORRIED.
The Apparent Contradictory Nature
OF Different Dispatches In ReIa-
tiion ts Russia and China Has .
Tendency 10 Keep the Diplomatic
OHfcisIs Guessing.

Washington. April s.-The Chinese
minister was an early caller at the
state department 10 seek information
as to the report, based on advices to
the state department, that there had
been an interruption of the diplo-
matte intercourse between Russia and
China. Mr.. Wu had not been advised
Of any such development, and the i'm
formation before the state depart
ment was so contradictory that IL did
not permit any clear explanation of
the real state OF affairs.
A Doubt Arises.
The doubt arises from the fact that
Mr.. Rockhills latest dispatch docs
not mention any such disarrangement
and the officials feel bound 90 accept
this as pretty strong evidence that
prior limitations OF discord have not
taken actual form. Yet the dispatch
received from Mr.. Squircs. the Ameri-
can charge d'affaires, in the absence
OF Minister Conger, appear 20 have
been quite explicit that the difficulty
already had made itself manifest. Ii
is thought possible at the state de-
partment that the circumstances 90
| which Mr.. Squires refers occurred
prior 10 the receipt in Pekin OF Ble
last Russian note, and that the trou-
bic may have been adjusted subse-
quently.
An Attitude of Expectancy.
The state department maintains an
attitude OF doubt and expectancy,
and in not yet prepared TO admit that
there has been an interruption of in
tercourFc between the two countries,
either limited or complete.
Aside from the Geographic advices
there are some attending circum-
stances which Indicate that at least
SINE STRAIN or partial 'ntcrruI ton OF
| intercourse has occurred. The fact
developed in Washington, about a
week ago. that Russia had delivered
to China what amounted 10 an ulti-
matum on the signing OF the Man
| churian agreement. This followed
the usual course OF untimatums and
/ fixed a definite limit OF days within
which China could act. IL also con
veycd the clear intimation that un'
favorable action by China would lead
TO severance of diplomatic relations
/ between the two countries.
! The Limit Has Expired.
The limit of time fixed is believed
to have been one week and TO have
expired last Wednesday. China did
not sign within the time limit and the
next day, Thursday, Russia addressed
her note TO the powers which has
been accepted as removing the pres
sure over the Manchurian agreement.
| This at first seemed TO be a waiver OF
| her prior intimation Of an interrupt
ton OF diplomatic intercourse, and
yet there was no such explicit waiver,
aud the latest advices from Pekin re-
porting that IN interruption has now
actually occurred, seem 20 be directly
in line with the threat previously con-
yeyrd.
In case there proves 20 be an inter
ruption OF the relations between Rus.
STA and China, il is not expected 20
lisarrange the negotiations between
the powers and China or between
Russia and the powers. 1t probably
would Toe confined to n termination
OF the close ententelong maintained
between Russia and China.