The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-09
THIS LOOKS BAD
rN,TEp STATES INVOLVED IN ANTI
RUSSIA COMBINE.
SECRET NEGOTIATIONS ON.
ro PREVENT RUssIA's ABSORPTION
OF MANCHURIA.

choate and LansdOwne Have Been
IN COnference-United States Said
+o Have Taken Joint Action with
creat britain to Bring Pressure to
ueor on Rassia-The Latter's Dec
1ora+ion Concerning Manchuria
Not Accepted by Great Britain-The
rovxers to Divide on the Issue.
yondon. March "A crisis has arisen
., Far Eastern affairs which, in the opin-
ian of the British government, is graver
almost than the troubles which originally
.rrred the eyes of the world toward the
orient. Secret negotiations are going on
hetveen the United States and Great
britain with a view to thwarting what
bo+b governments consider determined
ottempt on the part of Russia to plant
herself permanently in one Of the richest
tracts of the Chinese Empire.
Tho conference held Wednesday between
United States Ambassador Choate and
ord I.ansdowne, the foreign secretary
had nothing to do with the Nicaragua
canal affair." To quote from British Of
fetal the Nicaragua controversy is a
minor matter compared with the present
situation" What Mr.. Choate did was to
receive from Lord Lansdowne an import
ant message. declaring that Great Britain
was not satisfied with Russia's declara-
tion regarding Mauchuria, as delivered to
Sir Charles Stewart Scott, British am
bassador to st. Petersburg, by Count
1amsdorff. and asking the United States
if they were prepared to take joint ac-
tion of such a decisive nature that Rus
sia would have no alternative but to re-
cede from her position.
Almost simultaneously the Associated
Press understands. the United States
government instructed the various am
bassadors to take similar steps.
Concurrent Action by Washington.
The answer of Secretary Hay has ap-
parently not yet been received in London,
although the fact that almost concur
rent instructions were issued from Wash
ington is taken here to be a sufficient
guarantee that Russia's action in Man
cburia will not be tolerated by the Unit
ed States.
Japan is relied upon to take a line in
harmony with the United States and
Great Britain. Germany, in spite of the
Anglo German compact, is regarded as
rather doubtful, owing to Emperor VIII
am's friendship for the Gar. France, OF
course, will side with her ally.
The significance of the present phase
can only be appreciated by those cogni-
zant of the lethargic attitude of the Brit
ish government hitherto regarding Rus
sian action in China. Within the last
few days all this has changed. What a
week or two ago was pronounced only ~
line with Russia's usual policy is now
termed "a grave and serious state of af-
fairs
To Coerce Russia by Bold Front.
Lord Lansdowne is using every effort
to bring the Powers into line in order 20
present to Russia such menacing front
that, without any ambiguity regarding
temporary or other occupation, she may
give up all designs upon Manchuria.
What prompts the British foreign office
to take such an alarmist view of circum-
stances usually looked upon as fatalistic
sequences, is the apprehension that Rus
fa, having held her own in spite of the
protest of the ministers of the Powers
10 the Chinese government and having
put herself on record in the reply to Sir
Charles Scott as determined on at least
temporary occupation of Manchurla,
V refuse to back down.
That she must do so Lord Lansdowne
considers vital, both for the future of
China and for the continued existence OF
the concert of the Powers.
LamsdOrff's Reply Unsatisfactory.
Count Lamsdorff's reply to Sir Charles
Scott is considered quite unsatisfactory
If such excuses are accepted by the
Powers" said British official last even
ing to the Associated Press, there will be
nothing TO prevent the immediate parti-
ton OF China for, with almost exactly
the same verbiage, any European Power
could justify the occupation of other
provinces"
Upon the degree of support afforded
the movement by Germany and Japar
depends the result of what is understood
to be the almost synchronous action OF
Washington and London.
Russia Insincere, Says Germany.
Berlin, March S.-The German press be
ieves that Russia's assurances regarding
Manchuria to Sir Charles Stewart Scott
British ambassador in st. Petersburg, are
lnsincere and intended to blind the world
The National Zeitung frankly assert:
nat this is their object.
Japan Aroused Because of Russia.
London, March 9-"There is much nc.
uVlty in japanese naval, military and po
hucal circles regarding Russias actor
IN Manchuria," says a dispatch to tho
Daily Mail from Kobe, dated March s
lt is reported that 600 Russian marines
win ten guns. have landed at Masanpo
Korea"