Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1901-03-09
N&E FAR EAST
yes of the World May
Again Be Turned To-
ward the Orient.
CAR UNDER SUSPICION
The United States and Great Britain
Enter Upon an Undertaking TO
Cheek Russia's Designs.
The Cars Manehnrian Plans Are No
Longer Acceptable 10 the Great
Powers.
CAR UNDER SUSPICION

London. March "a crisis has
arisen III far Eastern affairs which in
the opinion OF the British government
is eraver almost than the troubles
which originally turned the eyes OF
the world toward the Orient. In this
crisis secret negotiations are going on
between the United States and Great
Britain with a view 10 thwarting what
both governments appear to consider
OelerLnlueu attempt on the part OF
ku> sia To plant herself permanently
in one of the richest tracts OF the
Chinese empire.
The conference held Wednesday be-
tween United States Ambassador
Choate and Lord I-ansdowne, the for
eisn secretary. had nothing 10 do with
the Nicaraguan canal affair. To quote
fr, III British official. The Nicaragua
controversy is u minor matter compar-
eu with the present situation" What
Mr.. Choate did was TO receive from
LorQ Lansdowne an important mes
sage declaring that Great Britain was
not satisfied with Russia's declaration
regarding Manchuria, US delivered to
bassador at st. Petersburg. by Count
Lamsdorf, and asking the United
States If they were prepared 10 take
joint action of such a decisive nature
that Russia would have no alternative
but TO recede from her position. AL
most simultaneously, it Is understood,
the United States government instruct
ed the various ambassadors to take
similar steps.
The answer of Secretary Hay has
apparently not yet been received i'll
London, although the fact that almost
concurrent instructions were issued
from Washington is taken here TO be
1 sufficient guarantee that Russia's
action in Manchuria Will not be toll
Grated by the United States. Japan
Is relied upon 80 take a line OF har-
mony with the United States and
Great Britain. Germany III spite OF
the Anglo-German compact, is regard
ed as rather doubtful, owing to EN-
peror Williams friendship for the
czar. France, of course, will side with
her ally.
The significance of the present
phase can only be appreciated by those
cognizant of the lethargic attitude of
the British government hitherto
garding Russian action in China
changed What week or two ag0
was pronounced only in line with Rus
sia's usual policy is now termed "a
grave and serious state OF affairs.
Lord Lansdowne Is using every effort
to bring the powers into line, in order
to present 10 Russia such menacing
front that. without any ambiguity re
garding temporary or other occupa-
ton she may give up all designs upon
Manchuria.
What prompts the British foreign
office to take such an alarmist view
of circumstances usually looked upon
as fatalistic sequences, is the appre-
hension that Russia, having held her
own in spite of the protest of the min
listers of the powers TO the Chinese
government and having put herself
on record in the reply 10 Sir Charles
Scott as determined on at least tenn
porary occupation of Manchuria, will
refuse TO back down. That she mus
do so. Lord Lansdowne considers vi
tai, both for the future of China and
for the continued existence of the con
cert of powers.
Count Lamsdorfs reply to Sir
Charles Scott is considered quite un-
satisfactory "If such excuses are
accepted by the powers" said Brit
ish offcial last evening, there will be-
nothing TO prevent the immediate par
tition OF China for with almest exact
" the same verbiage any European
power could justify the occupation OF
other provinces.
Upon the degree of support afforded
the movement by Germany and Japan
depends the result of what is under
stood to be the almost synchronous
action OF Washington and London.
L he whole affair is guarded with the
greatest secrecy; and il was not ap
parently without motive that a special
dispatch WAS allowed to GO from Lon
don enormously announcing that the
negotiations going on between Mr..
Choate and Lord Lansdowne related
! TO the Nicaragua affair. A feeling per
vades inner circles here that if Count
Lamsdorf's explanation Is accepted by
the powers Russia win be accorded a
fire.. hand to take all she pleases, and
the door viii be opened TO any other
power aggressive enough TO step in
/ and annex Chinese provinces under
the pretext of temporary occupation.
Japan Il Concerned.