The sun., 1901-04-09
new Chinese CRISIS.
Report That Russia Has Severed ALI
Diplomatic Relations.
HAD THREATENED TO DO so.
IL Is Thought In Washington That
Such Action VIII Not Disturb >
the General Negotiations
Now Under Way.

Washington, April S.-The Chinese
minister was an early caller ut the
state department to seek information
as to the report, based on advices to the
state department, that there had been
an interruption of the diplomatic inter-
course between Russia and China. Mr..
Wu had not been advised of any such
development, and the information be-
fore the state department was so con-
Trajectory that it did not permit any
clear explanation of the real state of
affairs.
The doubt arises from the fact that
Mr.. Rockhill's latest dispatch does not
mention any such disarrangement, and
the officials feel bound to accept this
rs pretty strong evidence that prior
intimations of dscord have not taken
actual form. Yet a dispatch received
from Mr.. Squires, the American charge
,i'affaires in the absence of Minister
Conger. appears to have stated eX-
plicitly that the difficulty already had
made itself manifest. 1t is thought
possible at the state department that
the circumstances towhich Mr.. Squires
refers occurred prior to the receipt in
Peking Of the last Russian note and
that the trouble may have been ad-
justed subsequently.
The state department maintains an
attitude of doubt and expectancy and
is not vet prepared to admit that there
has been an interruption of inter-
course between the two countries,
either limited or complete.
| Aside from the telegraphic adyices
! there are some attending circum-
stances which indicated that ut least
some strain or partial interruption of
| Intercourse has occurred. The fact de-
veloped in Washington about week
| ago that Russia had delivered to China
! the signing of the Manchurian agree
/ lnent. This followed the usual course
Of ultimatums and fixed a definite
limit of days within which China could
act.
Russia's Threat.
1t also conveyed the clear intimation
that unfavorable action by yChina would
/
tions between the two countries.
The limit of time fixed is believed to
| have been one week and to have ex-
pired last Wednesday. China did not
sign within the time limit, and the
next day Crhursday) Russia addressed
her note to the powers. which has been
accepted as removing the pressure over
the Manchurian agreement. This at
first seemed to be Il waiver of her prior
| intimation of an interruption of diplo-
matte intercourse, and yet there was
no such explicit waiver and the latest
ndvices from Peking reporting that an
interruption has now actually occ,l,:red
seem to be directly in line with the
threat previously conveyed.
In case there proves to be an inter-
ruption of the relations between Rus
sia and China it is not expected to dis
arrange the negotiations between the
powers and China or between Russia
and the powers, 1t probably would he
confined to a termination of the close
,ntente long maintained between Rus
sia and China.
\ Yokohama dispatch says that the
news of Russias decision not to press
the Manchurian agreement was receiv
I'd with feeling of considerable re
lief. In anticipation of complication:
that might ensue the Japanese govern
iuent has resolved TO postpone impoi
tant state undertakings involving larg,
expenditures.