The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-03
WHAT COURSE WILL RUSSIA rAkEr

WHAT COURSE WILL RUSSIA TAKE.
Now that China has refused TO sign
the agreement with Russia by which, 1t
is understood, the latter was TO have au-
thority to administer the affairs of Man
churia, there is much anxiety to know
what course Russia win take 1t is not
known exactly what the provisions of the
agreement were. Neither China nor Rus
STA has shown a disposition to make the
document public. Russia has assured the
government OF this country that the
agreement did not cede Manchuria to
Russia, but only gave Russia authority
to administer it's affairs until such time
as China co53d give assurances of her
ability to protect Russia's railway prop
erty in the province.
If that was all the agreement contained
it is difficult to understand why there was
so much secrecy in respect to it. 1t is
true that Russia has vast railway in
terests in Manchuria. and these interests
have been threatened with destruction by
the Boxer element of the Chinese popule-
ton. 1t is even claimed that the agree
ment did not give Russia any more au-
thority than she possessed before the
agreement was negotiated-that. in fact,
it only confirmed grants which had been
made already.
But whatever the truth of the matter is
it is certain that the other Powers en-
gagged in putting down the Boxer trou-
bles in China objected to the agreement
and protested against China's signing it.
They seemed to have the idea that 1t
transferred Manchuria to Russia. There is
an understanding among the Powers, in
Guiding Russia. that there shall be no
transfer of Chinese territory to any one
of them, but that the integrity Of the
Chinese empire shall be preserved. There
was feeling therefore that Russia was not
acting in good faith-that she was get
ting territory while the other Powers
were getting practically nothing.
But will the Powers which protested
against China's signing the agreement
stand by China if Russia undertakes to
adopt coercive measures? viii they as
sist her with their armies and navies If
Russia makes war upon her? It seems
that China is acting on the understand
ing that they will. In fact, her govern
ment has announced that they are as
much concerned in the matter as she is
The statement is made that Russia has
threatened China with war If she refuses
to sign the agreement. Under the circum-
stances China must be placing great re-
lance upon the Powers whose advice she
is following. Is she making a mistake in
doing so? Japan would like a chance to
begin conflict with Russia, but it is
quite certain that this country is not
anxious to become involved in a war with
that Power. England has been talking
in a warlike tone but she has about as
much as she can attend to at present
in South Africa. AS for Germany it
is impossible to foresee just what her
policy is. There is some ground for
suspicion that she would like nothing bet
ter that an excuse to grab some of China's
territory
Ii Hung Chang has been urging the
Chinese government to sign the Russian
agreement, but he seems to have lost
much of his influence. It is known also
that he is inclined to favor Russia in all
matters In which Russia is Interested
Still, in this matter of Manchuria he
may be advising his country wisely. He
knows what the agreement contains. 1t
seems that he does not fear that 1t is
Russia's purpose to grab Manchuria. In
view of the refusal of China to sign the
agreement there will doubtless be some
very interesting developments in the Chi
nese siIualinn within the naxt faur ia -