New-York tribune., 1901-03-22
BOTH SIDES WITHDRAW.
RrSSo BRITISH TROUBLE AT TIEN-TSIN
AnJT- -STFD.
ANNOUNCEMENT GREETED WITH CHEERS
IN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF
RLOOnSHED AVERTED.

London, March 2f.-In the House Of Lords to-
dav the Foreign Secretary, Lord Lansdowne,
announced that Russia and Great Britain had
agreed u withdraw their troops from the dis
puted territory at Tien-Tsin and reserve the
question Of title and proprietary rights for sub
seouent examination.
The statement was received by the House
with every evidence Of relief
LORD LANSDOwNE'S STATEMENT.
Lord Lansdowne supplemented the announce
nent by explaining that the dispute concerned
an extensive area on the left bank Of tho Pei
Ho River. which the Russians occupied in the
autumn and claimed by right of conquest. Sub
seduently the government was informed that
China and Russia had reached an agreement
placing the area under Russian occupation. The
area. however. comprised plots belonging to the
Northern Chinese railroad, and was therefore
part of the security Of the British bondholders.
The line was part of the railroad recently trans
ferrAd by the Russians TO Field Marshal Won
Waldersee who retransferred it to the British.
The necessities of the allies required the con-
struction Of a siding of the plots referred
10 and the presence of British workers the
nlot was treated as a trespass on Russian terri
tory II was subsequently alleged that the Rus
sian boundary marks had been removed by the
q
nnent on March Is telegraphed to its represen-
tativA in China that il thought the rights Of the
British or Russian troops 10 occupy the disputed
r,oints could he best settled by Field Marshal
Won Waldersee as the commander-in-chief. and
General Gaselee Ghe British commander) was
instructed 10 request the Field Marshal to settle
the immediate differences. reserving 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 10 repel aggression.
on March 20 the alleged removal Of the Rus
sian boundary pillar occurred, and the govern
meat instructed the British Minister at Pekng.
Sir Ernest Satow that Great Britain was ready
10 refer the facts TO Field Marshal Won walder-
see. on the understanding that If either side
was found 10 have committed an irregularity it
should apologize to the other. The government
added that the construction OF the siding should
continue under whatever conditions the Field
Marshal thought fit TO impose. He Lord Lans
doUne) was glad TO say he had heard this morn
ing from the British Ambassador at st. Peters
burg that the Russian Foreign Minister, Count
Iansdorff had proposed that they should agree
10 reserve all questions Of title and proprietary
rights for the examination Of the two govern
ments and that in the mean while orders be
forthwith sent for the withdrawal of the troops
Of both sides from the disputed plots. Great
Britain had entirely cOncurred, and thought the
withdrawal should he carried out to Field Mar
shal Won Waldersee's satisfaction
COUNT LAMsDORFF PACIFIC.
Lord Lansdowne added that Count Lamsdorn
had expressed a very moderate and statesman
like desire 10 avoid any cause for friction be-
tween the two governments. and since the
oeipt Of Count Lamsdorff's proposal the govern
nent had ordered the military authorities to
carry out the simultaneous withdrawal of the
troops 10 the satisfaction of Field Marshal
Waldersee, so that there might be no room for
renewed misunderstanding in regard to matters
Of detail.
His Lordship expressed the hope that the
suit of the negotiations showed that what was
really a very small matter of strictly local i'm
portance would not be allowed to disturb the e.
lstions between the two countries.
The statement was received with cheers.
Lord Cranborne, the Foreign Under Secretary,
in the House of Commons to-day assured Sir
Ellis Ashmead-Bartlett that the government
considered the statements of the Russian For
eign Minister, Count Lamsdorff February 6 and
February IL, applicable to any agreement IN
regard TO Manchuria between Russia and China.