The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-04-09
FRICTION IN CHINA.
Some Strain or Partial interruption of
Intercourse Has Occurred.
NATURE OF 1T NOT KNOWN.
Supposed 10 Be Due TO China's Fail.
ure 10 Sign Agreement.
ILLNESS OF YANG YU DOUBTED.
The Russians Believe lie Was Only Pre-.
tending.
GENERAL CIlAFFEE SENDS NO NEWS
RockhlI's Dispatches Regarding The Ne
eotiations at PeEin Are More
ILLNESS OF YANG YU DOUBTED.
The Russians Believe lie Was Only Pre-
tending.
GENERAL ClIAFFEE SENDS No NEWS
Rookhilrs Dispatches Regarding The Ne
eotiatons at Pekin Are More
Hopeful in Tone.

Washington, April S.-rhc Chinese minis.
ter was an early caller at the state depart.
ment today to seek information as 10 the
report. based on advices to the state de.
partmcnt that there had been an Interrupt
tlon of the diplomatic intercourse between
Russia and China Mr. WI had not been
advised Of any such development and the
information before She state department
WAS so contradictory that It did net permit
any clear explanation Of the real state NJ
affairs. The doubt arises from the fact
that Mr. Rockhllls latest dispatch does
not mention any Disagreement Yet the
dispatch from Mr.. Sqnicrs, the American
charge dafaircs yesterday appcaEs 90
have been quite explicit that trouble has
been manifested. N is Thought at the
state department that the circumstance "a
which Mr Squlers referred occurred prior
TO the last Russian note aud hat the
trouble may have been passed by
The state department maintains \ spirit
Of doubt and Is not yet prepared to admit
that thcre has bccn an Interruption Of IN
tcrcourse between the two countries, either
limited or complete.
Telcgraphic advlccs say some strain or
partial interruption Of Intercourse has oc-
cured The fact developed In Washington
about week ago that Russia had dcliv-
cred 10 China what Amounted TO an ulti-
matum on the signing OF The Manchur,an
agreement This followed the usual course
OF ultimatums and fixed definite limit OF
days within which China could act 1t
also conveyed the clear intimatiou that un-
favorable action Ivy China would lead TO n
- nj ia relottnug hot NVpnu
the two countries. The limit Of time txeh
Is believed to have been one week and 70
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 pressure over the Manchu'
riNn agreement This at first seemed 60 be
waiver ~ her prior limitation NJ an In
tcrruption Of diplomatic intercourse, ana
vet there was no such explicit waiver, aud
the latest adNiccs from pcSln representing
that an interruption had actually occurred
seems TO be directly In line with the
threats previously conveyed,
The peculiar state NJ diplomatic relations
between the foreign office and minister
/ at 81. Petersburg give further evidence
| that friction has occurred. The Illness OF
| Yang Yu was tho cause ascribcd for hi,
failure 10 sign the agreement. There Is
good reason 10 believe that the Russian
authorities did not regard this sickness
Of thr minister as in good faith but looked
upcn II az device to avoid action. The
| dispatches now state that Yang Yu'S sick
ness has SO increased since mis- last inter
view with Count I.amSdorr that he MAJ
nave TO withdraw. This Is accepted here
T., well posted quarters as a delicate init
nation that the Russian government ha
expressed It's dlsapproval ia such a wa!
that Yang Yu's withdrawal would follow
IN consequence.
A brief dispatch from General Chaffe
was received today, hut beyond the rccor
Of a casualty 10 private soldier, Its con
tents are withheld from tho public. II
believed that the unpublished portion o
the dispatch refers to the disinclinatio
Of ether foreign military commanders (
reduce the number of fortified posts an
tho strength Of the garrsons between Pc
Kin and the sea to the proportions suggest
cd hy General Chaffce under direction O
his government
Mr.. RockhlHs dispatches to the state d,
partment regarding the negotiations a
Pekin are more hopeful in tone than the
were a week ego, but II Is stlll apparer
that the subject Of indemnity is bound I
consume much more time. This II OWN
70 the original difficulty, namely, the e.
cesslye demands Of one, at least Of IN
great European powers. The minister
have been assured By the best technlc,
authority that Chlua's ability 10 pay II
dcmnity Is limited 10 the sum OF abot
5000 600 600 or $3.50. 10000.