The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-01-06
pEcREEs ISSUED RY czAR.

NEW YORK, Jan. 5.--A special to
the Herald from Washington says:
Your correspondent has obtained
copies OF important DEGREES issued by
the czar of Russia, which 90 to show
that the st. Petersburg government
contemplates no departure from the
policy Of evacuatlng Manchuria as soon
as circumstances permit These decrees,
which are In the form Of instructions
to military and naval commanders. fur
ther show that the ezar has been siren
uous in his efforts to avoid looting or
III treatment OF the Inhabitants OF the
territory occupied by his troops.
One telegram sent by the minister OF
war TO General Grodckoff, commanding
the Russian troops in Manehuria. reads:
His imperial majesty orders me to
send you the following Instructions:
His maiesty's desire is not only that
there should be no annexation OF Chi
nese territory to Russia. but as has
been published in the Official commune
cation Of September l, that our troops
should be later recalled from Manchu-
ria, II there be no hindrance thereto
by the course pursued by other powers.
In accordance with this imperial decis-
ion you will do all that is possible to
bring the military operations in Man
churia to speedy end.
AT present Russias principal object
is the continuance and completion Of
railways We are building Your efforts
must be directed to help this work and
guard the wOrkmen. Russian admin
istration must not be introduced in
the territory occupied by our troops.
Ycu will reassure the population. re-
move their fears and bring them back
to their ordinary occupations IN time OF
peace. See that the soldiers commit no
Violence upon the Inhabitants after the
last shot of the hattie. Life, honor.
property and customs of the natives
must he sacred to the troops"
The czar had many weeks before
wired this order to Admiral Aliexoff:
''Strictest discipline, irreproachable in
ternal order. respect for the peaceful
citizens, compassion for the vanquished.
regard for their property must be en-
forced by you with an iron hand
This was followed by these orders to
both General Grodekoff and Admiral
Aliexoff just after the Russian troops
had crossed into Manchurla:
circumstances having obliged our
troops to cross the frontier into Man
ehuria, we will soon have quelled the
rebellion. Order will be restored equal
ly soon on the Manchurian railroad and
work will be resumed under the protec-
ton of our armed forces. But that is
not enough. It Is absolutely necessary
that the peaceful inhabitants Of Man
churia should not join the rebels and
create the painful necessity Of making
war upon the whole Chinese nation.
His imperial majesty therefore, di-
rects me to instruct you to take strin-
gent measures, so that war shall be
conducted. with the inexorability in
ferent to all warfare. only against
Chinese troops and armed citizens; that
they must be defeated, deprived Of their
arms and the fortifcations destroyed.
But the peaceful residents, their
homesteads and their property must not
be touched by our valorous soldiers or
by border Cossacls. No unnecessary cru
city or devastation should be allowed.
Destruction OF cities or villages and
burning OF farms may be resorted to
only IN extreme Gases as punishment
for heavy and bloody crimes. Such