The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-28
SAYS CHINA WILL SIGN.
INFoRMAZIONFROMA 4 COMPETENT AUTHORITY AT ST. PETERsBUR

AlReiy-MOngOlta and Turk ostan NOe :, Affectetl-China to Continue to coll.ct Customs in Manchuria-HerA Ability to Pay Indemnity Not Diminished. St. Petersburg, March 27.-The corre- spondent of the Associated Press is in- formed on competent authority that the Russo Chinese agreement will probably be signed soon. The negotiations con- tlnue, and the result is not yet certain. The details will possibly be slightly modified, bt the arrangements will be. substantially as demanded. According to the Russian point of view. an abate- ment of what are here regarded as mod crate demands would be inconsistent With Russian interests and not sufl- ciently safeguard the frontier and rail- road
 The draft of the agreement now pe- ing discussed does not mention and doex 1 not affect Mongolia or Turkestan.s It concerns Manchuria exclusively. Mor- golla or Turkestan have never been in- cluded in the formal draft, but thcysE 4 formed a subject, with Manchuria. cf an exchange of ideas preliminary to formal negotiations. The agreement will be designed for the protection of existing interests and rights, and not for the acquisition of new things.
 It is Automatically admitted that Russia IS seeking certain guaranteeS for future security, and it is .positiyely, certain that no powers have protested. ' even Japan refraining from this at- tempt to interfere between two other governments. However, the Japanese| minister discussed this and other phases l of the Chinese question with the for- | eign office. The statement of the Jap-H anese foreign minister that Japan will necessarily demand compensation if the agreement is signed has not made de- cisive impression, for promises or threats and their performance are often quite different. The agreement will not diminish substantially Chinas ability to pay an indemnity, since the arrange ment protects, or, at least, does not af- feet the existing commercial rights uf < other nations in Manchuria. China WiIa sS continue collecting customs dues iR W Manchuria. W SIGNATURE NOT PERMITTED of l
 TUESDAY.
 An Imperial Decree Prohibiting ActioL 9asS
 on That Date. Pekin, March 27.-The Chinese hal % not signed the Manchuria agreement with Russia last night, when the tint < limit fixed by Russia expired
 London, March 27.-The officials of the Japanese embassy confirm to-day the report that a Chinese imperial de-Ss cree was issued by the court at Sianf Flu, through Liu- -Kun-Yi, the viceroy o{ " Nankin, ordering that the ManchuriaH convention should not be signed yester day, the date fixed by Russia. An ifas = timation of this decree was telegraphe& # to the various governments concerned X JAPAN TO PROTECT HER INTER< N
 ESTS. SSS Declaration to That Effect by Marquik
 Ito.
 Yokohama, March 27--At meeting of his parliamentary adherents to-day the premier, the Marquis Ito, referring to foreign politics, said Japan had at< tained a position enabling her to pr0< tect her legitimate interests and to tak9 whatever steps the exigencies of tho x moment required.
 It was impossible to deny that JapaE ~ feels the influence of the complicationf with her neghbor, or ignore4 the clouds on the horizon. %