The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-12
EAGLE AND LION SCHEM1NG
AGAINST BEAR.
MUST Give UP MANCHURIA
Concerted Effort to Be Made
Against Russian 0ccupa-
ton of Province.

London, March 8-A crisis has
arisen in the far eastern affairs which
in the opinion of the British govern
ment is graver almost than the trou-
bles which originally turned the eyes
of the world toward the orient.
In this crisis secret negotiations are
going OH between the United States
and Great Britain with a view to
thwarting what both governments
appear to consider a determined at
tempt uron the part of Russia 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 Lansdowne had
nothing to do with the Nicaraguan
canal affair. To quote from a British
official the Nicaraguan controversy
twas a minor matter compared with
the present situation" What MI.
Choate did was to receive from Lord
Lansdowne a diplomatic message de-
claring that Great Britain was not
satisfied with Russia's explanation as
regards Manchuria developments to
Sir Charles Stuart Scott, British am
bassador at St. Petersburg, by Count
Lansdorff, and asking if the United
States vas prepared to take steps OF
such a decisive nature that Russia
would have no alternative but to re-
cede from her position.
Almost simultaneously, the Associat-
ed Press understands, the United States
government instructed the various
ambassadors to take similar steps.
The answer of Secretary Hay has
apparently not yet been received in
London, although the fact that almost
concurrent instructions were issued
from Washington is taken to be OF
sufficient guarantee that Russia's
actions in Manchuria will not be toll.
Grated by the United States.
Japan, it is understood, is ready tt
take sides with Great Britain and the
United States. Germany, i'll spite Of
the Anglo-G German agreement, is re
garded MS rather doubtful, owing te
Emperor 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 letha1gic attitude Of
the British government hitherto re
garding Russian action in China
Within the past few days all this has
changed. What a week or two wa!
pronounced only in>line with Russia
useful policy is now termed "a grave
aud serious state of affairs"
Lord L~ansdowne is using every
effort to bring the powers into line il
order to present to Russia such
menacing front that without any
ambiguity regarding temporary O.
other occupation she may give up al
designs upon Manchuria.
What prompts the British foreign
office to take such an alarmist view o
circumstances usually looked upon Al
a fatalistic sequence is the aprrehen
sion that Russia, having held her own
i'll spite of the protest of the minis
ters of the powers. with the Chimes
government, and having put hersel
on record in the reply to Sir Charlie
Scott as determined at least on
temporary occupation of Mancauria
will refuse to back down.. That sh'
shall do so Lord Lansdowne consider
vital, both for the future of Chin'
and for the continued existence of tn
concert of the powers.