The age-herald., 1901-03-27
United States Has Done All
 in Its Power for Peace
COMMUNICATION ID POWERS
America Is Opposed to Russia's Posi- ton Regarding Manchuria and So Outlines Her Position In Let
 ter to Other Countries.

Washington, March 26.-The crisis in the Chinese question brought about through the expiration of the period allowed for the signature by China of the Manchu- rian agreement was the principal topic before te cabinet today. The conviction obtained that the United States had done all that it could properly do to prevent the consumation of this arrangement and to make clear to the public the complete disapprovaI which Is entertained by the United States government for this sort of secret treaty-making, it has been deem ed proper to give out for publication the following memorandum:
 "Chinese correspondence, March 1, 1901 Telegraphic instructions sent to the rep resentatives of the United States in Der lin, Vienna. Paris, London, Rome, Tokio and St. Petersburg.
 Department of State, Washington, D. C., March l. 19O1.-The following memor- andum which was handed to the Chinese minister February 19 is transmitted to you for your information and communi- cation to the government to which you are accredited:
 'The preservation of the territorial ,n- tegrity of China having been recognized by all the powers now engaged In 1oint negotiation concerning the injuries re- cently inflicted upon their ministers and nations by certain officials and subjects of the Chinese empire, it is evidently ad- vantageous to China to continue the pres ent international understanding upon this subject. It would be, therefore, unwise and dangerous in the extreme for China to make any agreement to consider any proposition of a private nature inVolVins the surrender of territory or financial oo- ligations by convention with any par ticular power; and the government of the United States, aiming solely at the pres ervation of China from the danger 1ndl- cated and the conservation of the large stand most beneficial relations with that empire and other countries in accordance with the principles set forth in its cir cular note of July 8. 19oo, and in a purely friendly spirit toward the Chinese em- pire and all the powers now nteresteu in the negotiations, desires to express the sense of the impropriety, inexpediency and even extreme danger to the interests of China of considering any private ter ritorial or financial arrangements, at least without the full knowledge and approval of all the powers now engaged ln nego- tiation.
 SIdIuS INOk SIiSAtlSSNs
 Assuming that the arrangement is to be carried out, 1t Is still the lntehtloh oi the State Department that nothing has occurred to change the status of the United States towards the open door, as applied to any part of China, including Manchuria. As far as written pledges can commit power, Russia stands pledged to accord to the United States the "open door, If she takes control or
 1,,vD vat InTl or indirectly, but quite as effectually by the means proposed in this Russo-Chinese agreement That Is the view of the State Department and that view Is endorsed by the entire cabinet. The administra- tiop believes that the secret agreement between Russia and China is in viola tion of the spirit, If not the letter, or the general understanding to which all the powers subscribed last summer, and the United States government Is prepared to use all its moral suasion and influence to prevent its consummation Further than that however, this government is not prepared to go. The President and mem bers of the cabinet believe it Is conceiva- ble that Russia is entitled perhaps, to some separate guarantee from China for the protection of its railroad concession in Manchuria, but not to the extent which it is understood that the Czar's govern ment Is to obtain by the secret treaty4 This government has information regard ing this treaty, and while there Is no in- dication of the exact nature or source of this information, 1t is considered accu- rate and definite.
 The President and cabinet, it is under stood have no direct information con- cerning the imminent rupture between Russia and Japan, or its extent, but the developments are being watched with eager interest.
 Generally, it is not believed here that there will be a collision between the two powers, as there is a strong impression that Japan would not undertake war with Russia single-handed, and there is no indication that she would be joined by another power.
 The news from the Philippines, as com municated to the cabinet by Secretary Root, continues not only reassuring, but much more favorable than has been an- ticipated. The President informed the members of the cabinet that he had sent for Mr. P. c. Knox of Pittsburg, who was in southern California, and that upon his arrival here on Thursday it was his in- tention to formally offer him the attor- ney-generalship