The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-22
proprietary rights for subsequent examina-


ton.
Lord Lansdowne supplemented the an
nouncement by explaining that the dispute
concerned an extensive area on the left
bank of Pei-Ho river, which the Russians
occupied in the autumn and claimed by
right OF conquest Subsequently the gov
ernment was informed that China and Rus
sia had reached an agreement placing the
area under Russian occupation. The area,
however comprised plots belonging to the
Northern Chinese Railroad, and was, there
fore, part of the security of the British
bondhoders. The line was part of the rail-
road recently transferred by the Russians
TO Field Marshal Won Waldersee, who re-
transferred il to the British. The necessi-
ties OF the allies required the construction
of siding of the plots referred to,
and the presence of British workers on the
plot was treated as -trespass on Russian
territory. 1t was subsequently alleged that
the Russian boundary marks had been re-
moved by the British In those circum-
stances the government on March 16. tele-
graphed to it's representative in China that
1t thought the rights of the British or Rus
sian troops to occupy the disputed points
could be best settled by Field Marshal
Count Won Waldersee as the commander
in-chief. and General Gaselee. the British
commander. was instructed to request the
field marshal TO settle the immediate diff
ferences, referring for future examination
the question of the validity of the alleged
private rights. General Gaselee was also
instructed to refrain from using force ex-
cept to repel aggression.
On March 20 the alleged removal of the
Russian boundary pillar occurred, and the
government instructed the British minister
at Peking Sir Ernest Satow, that Great
Britain was ready to refer the facts to
Field Marshal Won Waldersee, on the un-
| derstanding that if either side was found
to have committed an irregularity it should
apologize to the other. The government
| added that the construction of the railway
should continue under whatever conditions
the field marshal thought best to impose.
He Qord Lansdowne) was glad to say he
had heard this morning from the British
ambassador at st. Petersburg that the Rus
sian foreign minister. Count Lamsdorf had
proposed that they should agree to refer
| all questions of title and proprietary right
for the examination of the two govern
ments. and that in the meanwhile orders be
| sent forthwith for the withdrawal of the
| troops OF Doth sides from the disputed
plots. Great Britain had entirely concurred
and thought the withdrawal should be car
ried out to Field Marshal Won Waldersee's
! satisfaction.
Lord Lansdowne added that Count Lams-
| dorff had expressed a very moderate and
statesmanlike desire to avoid any cause for
| friction between the two governments, and
since the receipt of Count Lamsdorff's pro-
posal the government had ordered the mill
| tary authorities to carry out the simutan-
eous withdrawal of the troops to the salts
| faction of Field Marshal Won Waldersee. so
| that there might be no room for renewed
! misunderstanding in regard to matters OF
| detail. His lordship expressed the hope
| that the result of the negotiations over
what was really very small matter OF
| strictly local Importance would not be al
| lowed to disturb the relations between the
two countries. The statement was received
| with cheers.
| Lord Cranborne, the foreign under secre-
| tary i'm the House of Commons, to-day as
| (CONTINUED ON PAGE 5. COL. g.