Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-29


tho country. Yet, III direct opposition
to these declarations. the ministers Of
the Car proposed to the Chinese au-
thorities q secret convention or treaty.
by the terms of which the large and
populous province of Manchuria was
to be coded to Russia, and March 26th
wa fixed as the date Of signature.
That was manifestly the reverse of
fair dealing, and the knowledge OF
what was going on brought forth from
the State Department at Washington
the following circular letter, trans
mitted by telegraph to the diplomatic
representatives of this country in
Berlin, Paris, Vienna. London, Rome,
Toxic and st. Petersburg, with in
structions to transmit the context to
the governments to which they are ac-
credited:
Department of State,
Washington, March 1, 1901.
Lie 4 A46 $1,000
was handed to the Chinese Minister on
Feb. 10, is transmitted to you for your
information and to communicate to
the government to which you are &C
credited:
."ihe preservation of the territorial
integrity of China having been recog-
nized by all the Powers now engaged
in joint negotiations concerning the in
juries recently inflicted upon their min
listers and nationals by officials and
subjects of the Chinese Empire, 1t is
evidently advantageous to China to
continue the present international I'M
derstanding upon this subject. 1t
would, therefore, be unwise and dan
gerous in the extreme for China 10
make any arrangement or to consider
any proposition of a private nature in
volving the surrender of territory or
financial obligations by convention
with any particular Power; n n
government of the United States, aim
ing solely at the preservation OF CHINA
from the danger indicated and the con-
servation of the largest and most ben
eicial relations between the Empire
and other countries in accordance with
Lie DIluClUlCS bCI III IA -
note of July 3, 1900, and in a purely
friendly spirit toward the Chinese En-
pire, and all the Powers now interest
ed in the negotiations, desires to ex-
press it's sense of the Improperly, IN
%expediency, and even extreme danger
to the interests of China OF conslder-
ing any private territorial or financial
ARRANGEMENTS, at least without the full
knowledge and approval OF all the
Powers now engaged in negotiation
ebay"
The correspondent of the Sun adds:
1T is admitted here that the United
States Government has abundant reas-
on to attempt to thwart Russias pur
pose. Not only has that nation agreed
to the principle of maintaining the
territorial integrity of China, but 1t
has subscribed to the principle that
there should be no arrangement be-
tween China anG any Power for the
surrender of Chiae2e territory or nm
ancial obligation without the tull
knowledge and approval of all the
Powers. The negotiations which
brought about these understandings
were initiated by the United states
and for that reason, this Government.
it is said, would have a perfect right
to call Russia to account for max
ing secret treaties with China to OBJ
tain territorial advantages"
1t will thus be seen that America is
very much concerned in what is going
on. and must either demand the en-
forcement of the original agreement,
or retire from the field with whatever
grace the circumstances may per-
nit. This thing of being a world
power and mixing up in the troubles
and disputes of other nations has its
serious and disagreeable side. with
the addition of grave possibilities
which, under the radically different
policy of minding our own business,
would have been avoided.