The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-03-22
A WITHDRAWAL OF
TROOPS AGREED ON
Russia and Great Britain
Move For Peace.
MERITS OF THE DISPUTE
This is a Matter to be Determined
Later.
AN EXPLANATION BY LORD LANsDowNE
He Traces in the Upper House Of Parliament
History Of the Matter in Contention From
Its Beginning. All Serene
al Tien TSin.
al lien Tsin.
(By the Asgociated Pregg.l


London, March 21.-In the. House of
Lords today the Foreign Secretary, Lord
Landsdowne. announced that Russia and
Great Britain had agreed. to withdraw
their troops from the disputed territory
at Tien Tsin and reserve the question
of title and proprietary rights for subse-
quent examination. Lord Landsdowne
supplemented the announcement by ex-
planning that this dispute concerned an
extensive area on the left bank of the
Pei Ho River which the Russians oc-
Of conquest. Subsequently the Govern
ment was informed that China and Rus
sia had reached an agreement, placing
the area under Russian occupation. The
area, however, comprised plots belonging
to the Northern Chinese Railroad and
was therefore part of the security OF the
British bondholders.
The line was part of the railroad re-
Gently transferred by the Russians to
Field Marshal Won Waldersee, who. rer
Il
stiles of the allies required the construc-
tion of siding of one CT the Flats referred
to and the presence of British workers
on the plot was treated as a trespass
on Russian territory. 1t was subse-
quently alleged that the Russian boundary
marks had been removed by the British.
In those circumstances the Government,
March 16, telegraphed to its representa-
40 4N.-. IA
OF the British or Russian troops to oe-
cupy the dis~uted points can best be
settled by Field Marshal Won Waldersee
as the Commander in Chief and General
Gazelee (the British Commander) was in
structed to request the Field Marshal to
settle the immediate differences, reserv-
ing for future explanation the question of
the validity OF the alleged private rights.
General Gazelee was also instructed to
refrain from using force except to repel
aggression.
On March goth the alleged removal
of the Russian boundary pillar occurred
and the Government instructed the Brit
ish Minister at Pekin, Sir Ernest Satow.
that Great Britain was ready 10 refer
the facts to Field Marshal Won Walder-
see, On the understanding that if either
side was found to have committed an ir-
regularity it should apologize to the 9TH
er, The Government added that the
construction of the siding should continue
under whatever conditions the Field Mar
shall imposed He (Lord Landsdowne) was
glad to say that he had heard from
the British Ambassador at St. Petersburg
that the Russian Foreign Minister, Count
Lamsdorff, proposed that they should
agree to reserve the questions of
title and proprietary right for the exam
ination of the two Governments and that
in the meanwhile orders be forthwith sent
for the withdrawal cf the troops of both
sides from the disputed plots. Great Brit
ain had entirely concurred and thought
the withdrawal should be carried out to
Field Marshal Won Waldersee's satisfac-
ton.
Lord Landsdowne added that Count
Lamsdorff had expressed a very moder-
ate and statcsmanlike desire to avoid any
cause for friction between the two Gov
ernments and since the receipt of Count
Lamsdorff's proposal the Government had
ordered the military authorities to carry
cut the simultaneous withdrawal of the
troops to the satisfaction of Field Mar
shall Won Waldersee, SO that there might
be no room for a renewed misunderstand-
ing in regard to the matters of detail.
His Lordship expressed the hope that
the result OF the negotiations over what
was really a small matter of strictly lit
lie Importance would not be allowed to
disturb the reations between the coun-
tries.
The statement was received with
cheers.
Lord Cranborne. the Foreign Under
Secretary in the House of Commons. to-
day assured Sir Ellis Ashmead- Bartlett
that the Government considered the
statements of the Russian Foreign Minis
ter, Count Lamsdorff. February and
February Z as applicable to any agree
ment in regard to Manchura between
Russia and China,