Evening star., 1901-03-26
The Russo-Chinese Secret Agreement
Discussed.
SECRETARY HAYS MEMORANDUM
Mr.. Knox to Be Offered the At
torney Generalship.
z XEC TIVE CLEMENCY

slan-Chinese secret agreement as to Man
churla. Secretary Hay read to the cabi-
net the note Of protest which the State De-
partment prepared a few days ago and dis
patched to China. The note which is di-
rected to China, If not of protest, is at
least one of objection to the agreement
that china is about to sign or has signed
giving Russia such important concessions
IN Manchuria A copy of the note was
sent TO the representatives of this country
at the leading European capitals
secretary Hay pointed out that the note
ne had sent to China was exactly In line
with his note of July 3, the contents of
which were accepted by all the nations in
terested In the Chinese situation. That note
promised that China should be exempted
1 from any attempt at partition. This coun-
try again repeats it's objection to anvthinp
IKE territorial diSmemberment IT is stated
that this objection at this time is solely
mora! and that no more emphatic efforts
VIII De made now to stop the encroa CHI
ments of Russia.
The Memorandum,
ihe conviction obtained that the United
states mad done all that it properly could
~ prevent the consummation of this ar
iahsement, and to make clear to the public
the complete disapproval which is enter
tanned by the United States government for
mss ms sort OF secret treaty making, it was
ueemed proper to give out for publication
the following memorandum:
~ Shinese correspondence, March l. 1901
Ieiegraphic instructions sent to the renre.
sentatlVes of the United States in Berlin.
VIENNA, Paris, London, Rome, Tokyo and
ST petersburg. Department of State. Wash
ihgton, March /, 1901.-The following
memorandum. which was handed to the
Cnlnese minister on February 10, is trans
lnltteo 10 you for your information and
communication to the government to which
you are accredited:
ne preservation Of the territorial in
legrlty or China having been recognized by
an tne powers now engaged in joint nego-
tatlon concerning the injuries recently in
ncted upon their ministers and nationals
py certain officials and subjects of the
Chinese empire, 1T is evidently advanta-
seous TO China to continue the present in
ternatonal understanding upon this sub-
1ect. 1t would be, therefore unwtse and
dangerous in the extreme for China TO
make any arrangement or to consider anv
proposition Of private nature involving
the surrender of territory or financial oh
hsatlons by convention with any particular
power; and the government of the United
states. aiming solely at the preservation of
CHINA from the danger indicated and the
conservatism OF the largest and most bene-
Hclal relations between the empire and
other countries, in accordance with the
principles set forth in its circular note of
July 3, 1900 and in purely friendly spirit
toward the Chinese empire and all the pow
erS now interested in the negotiations de-
s1res to express its sense Of the impropri-
ETY.. lnexpediency and even extreme danger
to the interests Of China Of considering anv
private territorial or financial arrange
and approval Of all the powers now en-
gagged In negotiation. (Sig) HAY"
Assuming that the arrangement is to be
carried out, 1t is still the contention of the
State Department that nothing has oc-
CURED to change the status Of the United
states toward the "open door," as applied
to any part Of China, including Manchuria
AS far as written pledges can commit
the United States the "open door, If she
takes control Of Manchuria either boldly
and directly by annexation outright or in
directly but quite. as effectually by the
agreement. That is the view of the State
Departme I. and that is the view of the
entire cal .Iet.
The administration believes that the
secret agreement between Russia and
China is in violation of the spirit of the
understanding to which all the powers
subscribed last summer, and this govern
ment will continue to use it's moral suasion
and influence to prevent its consummation.
The President and his cabinet have heard
nothing from Russia as to the alleged
agreement. 1t is said that there is the
least bit of a feeling that as Russia bor-
ueTS Oh china, ana as ner immense railroad
and other interests are involved she should
be allowed some special privileges in the
peace treaty that will eventually be made
The Russian claim is that the Manchurian
railroad was overrun by Boxers and great
damage was done. She wants some guar
antees against this same thing at another
time.
To Be offered to Mr.. Knox.
1t was stated by cabinet members today
that President Mckinley is expecting Phil
ander c. Knox of Pittsburg in Washington
in few days and will then offer him the
position Of Attorney General to succeed
Mr.. Griggs. who will retire at the end of
the week. The President could not say to
his cabinet whether Mr. Knox would ac-
cept the offer to be made him. Attorney
General Griggs is getting the affairs of his
office In shape to turn over to a successor.
He has advanced all the business before
the department so that If there is delay
about successor the business Of the de-
partment will not suffer There is an i'm
preston In the cabinet that Mr.. Knox will
accept.
Executive Clemency.
President Mckinley has acted upon
number of applications for pardon and has
granted several Of very general interest.
One of the applications acted upon was that
of Wright Lancaster and Charles Clements
OF the southern district Of Georgia one of
the most noted cases In southern criminal
history. Urgent efforts were made when
President Cleveland was in Office to have
these two men and others connected with
the case pardoned. but Mr.. Cleveland re-
fused to do this. In the case of Luther A.
Hall, one OF the men convicted at the same
time. President Cleveland declined to par
don Hall when he was dying in the Ohio
Wright Lancaster, John K. Lancaster,
James Moore, Louis knight, Lem Burch,
Charles Clements, Richard Lowry and
Henry Lancaster were Jointly indicted for
the murder Of John G. Forsythe Henry
Lancaster and Rich Lowry were never ar
rested. Burch pleaded guilty, and Luther A.
Hall. Wright Lancaster and Charles Glenn
ents were convicted Of the crime and SEN
fenced to terms Of Imprisonment for life in
the Ohio penitentiary. Moore was acquitted.
John K. Lancaster and Louis Knight were
found guilty Of conspiracy only and were
sentenced to term Of years. Their SEN
tences have expired and they have been dis
Charged.
The murder grew out Of conflicting claims
for the possession Of large number of
acres Of land in the Georgia pine belt.
Forsythe, the murdered man. was the repre-
sentative of Norman W. Dodge in the con-
troll and MANAGEMENT of 300 600 or 400 OO0