Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-03-21
RUSSIA'S PLAN
SUZERANITY.
Would Rule Manchuria As Britain Does
Indian States.
China VIII Be Allowed to Keep the
Province But Will Only Have
Nominal COnrOI.

Washington, D. Especially Our
government has not yet been able to
obtain anything like an official state
ment of the contents of the alleged
agreement between Russia and China
respecting the protectorate over Man
ehuria. If it were not for the informa
lion which comes to it unoficiauy, yet
Is known to be reliable. the state de-
partment would not be able to affirm
even the existence of the compact. So,
in this state of official ignorance, it has
bot been possible to go very far in the
direction of protesting against Russia's
enurse. The state department has from
khe beginning sought to discourage any
kind Of secret arrangement touching
China, so that the Russian agreement,
regardless of its details would still be
Objectionable from this point of view.
The opposition to the Russian move
has not crystaIlized up to this mo-
ment, and it is felt that there is every
prospect of a contamination of the
agreement between Russia and China
unless the others powers, who now hang
undecided, speedily come to a deter
mination to oppose it.
In view OF TINS impending crisis the
officials here would regard as of sec
Ondary Importance the negotiations still
in progress at Pekin respecting indem-
mites and punishments were it not for
a belief that there is grave danger that
by an undue insistence by the ministers
at Pekin upon the collection of impos-
sible indemnities and the continuance
of punitive measures the United States
government would be obliged, in defer
'ence to public sentiment here, to main
tain an attitude of exact neutrality and
withhold any assistance that might
otherwise be reasonably required. in
the greater purpose of checking the
contamination of an agreement which
lis almost certain to result in the par
Itition of China. So, as already stated,
Especial Commissioner Rockhill is, act
ing under the instructions of the de-
partment doing his best to keep the de-
mands of the ministers within the abil-
lily of the Chinese government to meet,
las laid down as far back as last sum-
mer.
Such information as has come to the
~@-NAA~@S OAAAO~eNAS
Russian agreement consists of twelve
articles, not nine, as has been publish
ed. The chief concern of officials has
been to learn how far these articles af-
feet the permanent future of Manchu-
ria. On their face, it is said, they show
a return of Manchuria to China, which
would seem to be quite in keeping with
the desire of all the powers. But this
is accepted upon certain conditions i'm
posed upon China and it is understood
that these conditions, in effect, estab-
lish a Russian suZerainty over Manchu-
ria, with a Russian official occupying
the chief executive position. quite sim
liar to that of the British viceroy of
India. Comparing this condition with
that in India, it is sad that if the
present agreement is consummated
Manchuria will be much in the same
position as one of the Indian states,
having a certain degree of independ-
ence and yet conforming all it's actions
to the supreme authority over it.
, Chinese affairs receive considerable
attention at the state department, as
the Chinese minister, the British am
bassador and the Russian ambassador
follow each other in long conferences
with Mr.. Hav.
1t is understood that in the informal
discussion with Count Cassini al ear
nest intimation was conveyed to him
that it would be most helpful in deal
ing with the subject if clear and ex-
plicit understanding of Russia's plans
in this particular matter were forthcom-
ing.