The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-18
THE Willy MUSCOVITE
RUSSIA STILL PLAYING HER MAN.
CHURIANN GAME.
POWERS MAY TAKE A HAND
ABOUT TO PROCLAIM NU CHWANC
AS A RUSSIAN PORT.

Japan Withdraws Her Request for
Increased Indemnity in Order Not
to Block Observation-Disclosures
States Will Help Her to Get COM
pensauOn Some other Wny-Our
Consent Reluctantly Given for the
Increase of Chinese Customs Dues
in Order to Provide Means to Pay
the Indem nifty.
Washington, July lit is under
stood to be the desire of some of the
great Powers that the disposition of
Manchuria should go before the min
listers at Pekin, and be finally deter
mined by joint agreement among the
Powers. Although no definite step has
been taken in that direction, it is be-
ing discussed by foreign representa-
tives stationed here, who fully expect
that the plan will be adopted. Russia,
it is expected, will be reluctant to
agree to it. Attention has been directed
to the matter by reports that Russia
had resumed direct negotiations with
China concerning Manchuria, and also
by yesterdays cablegram stating that
Russian proclamation was about to
issue establishing Nu Chwang as a
Russian port.
AS to the report that Russia will
proclaim Nu Chwang to be a Russian
port, it is pointed out in official diplo-
matte quarters that Nu Chwang is a
treaty port and as such is open to the
commerce of the world, under the ex-
listing tariff regulations with China, and
foreign merchants have the right to
trade and to conduct establishments
there. These rights of trade could not
be divested, In the opinion of diplo-
matte officials, by a Russian proclama-
tion, unless the Powers had previously
given assent. Thus far there has been
no request from Russia or China for
any change in the status of Nu Chwang
as one of the treaty ports.
Japan's COnsiderate Step.
In a spirit which has aroused the
keeneSt admiration of the State De-
partment, the Japanese government has
met the difficulty growing out of the
preference of her request for an in
crease of her indemnity owing to de-
| probation in selling price of Japanese
! bonds by withdrawing the request. The
| result is a substantial loss to Japan.
! She asked originally for $23 900, 900.
| This figure was more moderate than
! any of the Powers which played a
prominent part in the Chinese cam
| paign, and represented the barest ex-
| pense of the undertaking. 1t was
| fixed upon the idea that payment was
| to be made in cash by China. Confront
ed with the bond payment, the Japan
ese government asked that her allot-
| ment be increased to $27, ,000, 900 in
| bonds to make good the loss she would
suffer through the sale of the bonds.
| AS soon as some of the other nations
| found that the allotment, as originally
| fixed, was in danger of being disturbed
| they came in with increased demands,
| and thus. it is that Japan, finding that
| insistence upon her demand would
| blockade the negotiations at this phase,
| has withdrawn her request for the
| present at least. 1t is safe to assume
! that the United States government will
| do what it can to secure compensation
| for Japan in some other way in the
| future.
To Increase China's Tariff.
| Mr.. Rockhill, our special commission
er at Pel1in, has been instructed to give
the assent of the United States to the
| proposition to increase the Chinese Gus
| toms dues in order to provide means
for the payment of the International in
| demnity. Our government is still op-
posed to this project and the instruc-
| ton is sent only in Difference to the
universal wish for a speedy conclu-
sion of the negotiations at Pekin. 1t
| is learned that the hitch in these ne
] gotiations, the most battling that has
| yet occurred is due entirely to the is
sue raised as to the increase of GUS
| toms.