The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-10
United states Is Acting Individually,
and VIII Not Depart from
Time-HOnOred Policy.
OBSERVATIONS OF A GERMAN
WHO THINKS RUSSIA WANTS TO AN
Mex ALL NORTHERN CHINA.
Flag of the Dear Floating Every
where in MnDchuria-Count Cas-
sini's View OF the Matter.

WASHINGTON, March 9.-The official
correspondence that has passed between
the State Department and the several pow
ers Interested in the Chinese question dis
closes the fact that Russia, suspected as
she is. by England, and perhaps by some
other powers. of planning to seize and hold
Manchuria as her own, has on every occa-
sion. when opportunity served to draw
forth a statement of her motives, declared
emphatically that she had no such pur-
pose. on the 10th uIt the United States
addressed strong representations to China
through Minister Conger and Prince Ching
and III Hung Chang. China was told that
the United States could not approve any
secret negotiations between China and any
Individual power looking to the concession
Of territory to such power. And, it was
further insisted, that. to be valid, any
such concession of territory should be given
only with the assent of all the other powers.
To still further emphasize the warning
against the beginning of a division of
China, II was significantly stated that the
United States did not regard the present
as an oppOrtune time for making any coh-
cessons of territory, or even for conduct
ing negotiations for such concessions. On
March l the State Department took steps
TO acquaint every one of the powers in
terested in China with the instructions 1t
had given Mr.. Conger The result was tc
elicit from nearly all of them expressions of
approval Of the doctrine laid down by ths
United States, and foremost among the
powers which accepted it was Russia.
The United States has not entered into
any secret or open agreement with Great
Britain. or with any other individual power,
however strongly it Way sympathize with
the British desire to insure Manchuria
against seizure. on the contrary. this gov
eminent has from the beginning discour-
aged such special alliances as to China,
and has adopted the practice Of informing
every one of the powers of the contents of
any statement it has addressed to any one
Of them 1t is felt here that the greatest
strength of our position has lain in these
frank and open methods of negotiations,
end there IS no disposition to abandon 1t
now.
Count Cassini is very much perturbed
over the tone Of the press dispatches from
London and does not hesitate to add his
emphatic and unqualified denial of the
truth of their contents. He had half-hOur
conference with Secretary Hay to-day. To
reporter he said, There ought to be no
doubt concerning the position OF Russia
IN Chinese affairs Her attitude is the same
to-day as it was on Aug. % last when she
declared that as soon as lasting order
shall have been established in Manchuria.
and Indispensable measures taken for the
protection OF railway construction which,
accOrdine To formal agreement China has
assured, Rrssia Will not fail 10 recall her
troops from these territories of the neigh
ooriEg empire providing that the action OF
the o.her powers does not place any OBJ
sIacle in the way of such a measure"