The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-03-29
SHOULD NOT IMPOSE
CRUSHING BURDEN
Upon China; National Integ-
rity Must Be Main
tained

foreign secretary, announced that no
further military operations by the
British troops In China we're eonieh-
plated for the present
when Field Marshal count Won Wal
dcrsc recently ordered preparations
for the recent expedition the foreign
accfetary said "a British government
Instructed General Gosclee 20 coinmun-
icato with the home government before
participating therein.
The compliance Of China with .he de-
mands on she powers Is hardly et sucn
"a character AZ to iutify the with-
drasai of thc allied forces, but the
the British government hoped 20 be
able before long 20 withdraw on reduce
its forces Ia China.
Negotiations were necessarily slow
with the refugee g0verpment. on the
broad questions. however, there was O
practical unanimity among the poTers
Tie allies had agreed they were not at
war with China and desired Go derive
no territorial advantage from the pres
ent events They also recognized the
binding nature Of the existing treaties
and desired TO maintain the open door
in commercial and economical Ques-
tons. while within the spheres where
existed preferential rights there should
be equauty Of opportunity for all the
mowers 4 sncerned. The British minis
ter az PeRin had been Instructed to be
moderate in his demands. and the gov
eminent only desired to strengthen the
guards Sufficiently TO insure the safety
81 the legations
In regard TO the question Of irdem-
"a. BE-
decided that the claims should be for
warded by the powers in one lot. AS
10 the source whence the indemnity
should be paid Il was not desired to
impose on china any crushing burden
TO do So would be contrary 20 the
policy OF the British government.
which policy was 10 respect the exist
ence OF China ns a gswer. He did not
dispair Of seeing China reformed. The
rieople possessed many good qualities
Roth the British and German govern
--ents had Informed China that Il was
not desirable. while negotiating With
the powers as whole that she should
enter into private arrangement in
volving territorial or financial condi-
tons with any other power. Russia hae
again assured Great Britain that the
occupasion Of the British railroad was
only temporary and without prejudice
To the interests involved Great Brit
ain had not waived her rights In con-
ncetion with these railroads. nor had
she ignored the interests OF the share
holders
AA.l TO sources Of revenue. he thought
the Maritime custorhs might be read
3usted so as TO impose a real instead
OF nominal 6 per cent adyalorem
duty Certain free articles ought TO be
subjected TO duty but caution was nee
cesary lest the interests Of British ccm-
merce be damaged.
Lord Lanadowne, referring 20 the
Anglo German agreement, said that
when this was being negotiated the
Nerman government gave Great Brit
ain 10 understand that In the German
view Manchurla was not a place where
they considered they had any influence
Ige thought. however. that the point
did not deserve too much attention,
pointing out that the only two treaty
ports In Manchuria were New ChwaEg
and ia Lien Wan. with regard 10
which explicit assurances had been
given by Russia.
Lord Lansdowne said he had seen
newspaper reports suggesting that
Count Won Buelow. the German imper-
lal chancellor had interpreted the
agreement differently fram Great Brit
ain. but the point did not seem vital
because all .he powers, including Ger
many, had repeatedly declared that
their policy wes to maintain the integ-
rity OF China.
IA regard 10 the reported Manchur-
ian agreement Lord Lansdowne said he
was not in position TO pass final opin-
ion on the matter. The government
would not criuclse In any carping spirit
any arrangement regarding Manchuria
which was in the nature OF modus vi
Vendi IL was suggested that the YER
Hlons OF The treaty published, were sim
ply trial balloons on the part OF some
official or pure Inventions designed tc
bring about a Misunderstanding.
He added Nothing would give us
greater pleasure than to cooperate
with the Russian government in expos
ing such an unworthy object IL Rus
sic would only, by communicating th'
real test OF the agreement enable Great
britain 10 put an end 90 this miscon-
ception, we should be prepared 20 co.
operate with her"
What initiated against any sucf
hopes had been the mystery IN ~hiei
the negotiations have been involved
throughout
Count E.amsdorff, the Russian minis
ter OF foreign affairs, had, however tn
forem the British ambassador az ~
Petersburg that II was the purpose o
Russia 20 arrange a modus viNend
with China with the object OF prevent
ing disturbances IN the vicinity Of tn
Russian frontier and that she had n
intention Of seeking that guarantee q
any acaulA.t.en Of territory or IN an
actual or virtual protectorate owe
Afanchuria II the document really fe
within the language used by Coun
r.amscorff. his najesty's government
would certainly not object 70 IL. Unt
these uncertainties were removed Grea
Britain could not 90 otherwise than al
here 70 the view that Il WAS not desii