The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-04-02
BEAR ST[RR|BEPRESSURE
CHINA VAINLY STRUGGLING IN
THE TOLLS.
Russia Insists on the Signing of the
Manchurian Treaty-China and Japan
Urge the Powers to Protest.

Manchurian Treaty-China and Japan
Urge the Powers to Protest.
LONDON, March 25.-The Chinese
Minister, Cnih Chen Lo Feng Luh
called at the Foreign Office today and
urged the Government to bring pres
sure to bear in order to prevent Russia
from securing the necessary signatures
of the Manchurian agreement. The
Foreign Office is till in the dark to-
night as to whether the agreement VIII
be signed or allowed to lapse when the
time expires, March 26th. The officials
of the Japanese Legation are inclined
to believe Russia will succeed in get
ting the necessary signatures.
The situation is still more complicat-
ed owing to the fact ascertained to-
day that there are two secret treaties,
one of which is to be signed at 81.
Petersburg dealing with Russias mill
tary control of Manchuria, and another,
to be signed at Picking, dealing with
her civil powers.
The Chinese appeals for support nave
failed to produce any direct remon-
strances from Great Britain or, appar-
emily, from any power, to st. Peters
burg for Russia persistently adhered
| to her contention that the agreements
| concern no one except herself ana
/ China on this ground Great Britain s
request for copies of the agreement
was abruptly declined.
! 1t is thought at the Foreign ONCE
here that it would be a dangerous and
| useless breach of diplomatic procedure
10 endeavor to enter upon eXpostula-
/ ti1ns with Russia, which would only
be based upon information supplied by
the Chinese. In other words, the CO.
pies of secret treaties and alleged mo-
difications of them recently given to
the powers by the Chinese are worth
less documents and will remain such
until Russia herself chooses to com
municate the text of the actual treaties
and notifications.
In the absence of the Japanese Min
lister in London, Baron Hayashi, Mr..
Matsui first secretary of the japanese
Legation, who was interviewed this
afternoon by a representative of the
Associated Press, made a comprehen'
sive statement of the issues involved;
"Russias insstence China's help
lessness and the probable victory OF
: Russian diplomacy tomorrow Will bring
us to the brink of a dangerous situa'
, ton, in which none of the powers is So
deeply concerned as Japan. Even if thu
secret treaties have been modified, a:
is alleged, the changes are so trifint
as to make the documents thoroughly
Objectionable to Japan.
Assuming that China signs the trea
ties, L suppose Great Britain, German!
and the United States will protest Il
Russia. But that is about as far al
they will go, and about as much al
they will get. With Japan it is a mat
ter of fighting
= THE question is whether we are t
fight Russia now or to fight her late
on. She has no right to Manchuria AM
If she secures Manchuria she will b
on the way to securing Corea Gu
Government, l believe, are considering
the crisis. Their eyes are wide opel
and they will not be driven to preci
pitate action by the jingoists of Japar
\ who are openly clamoring for imme
u diate war. Yet, if they see that wa
is unavoidable they will not hesitat
!, , to strike.
. Japan has no reason to be afraid a
II to the result Many reasons occur [
, the average Japanese mind in favo
of avoiding at the present moment
struggle which must come eventually
The chief reason against so doing is tn
n fact that Japan is just beginning
new industrial era, which would b
~ temporarily killed should we endeavc
by force of arms to prevent Russia
encroachmentS.
'lf we follow the lead of other pow
ers and do not threaten hostilities, W
realize that we must sit down tamel
and see any other nation step in
make agreements similar to thoS
which China seems on the verge
a signing with Russia. This would mea
3 the partition of the Chinese empil
and the end of the open door, If "
opposed it we naturally think we wou
have che moral support of the Unite
States which has been the champio
of these principles and also of Grei
D,.sN .,s. a 4 Nsasra anu
NEW YORK, March 25.-A speci
to the Herald from Washington say
China made a final appeal to the Uni
m ed States today to intervene and SUI
ID port her in declining to sign the Mai
churiap treaty tomorrow as demandC
by Russia. This appeal, personal
made to Secretary Hay by WI Til
Fang the Chinese Minister, was all
communicated by Chinese representa-
tives abroad to the governments
which they are accredited. 1t was flu
Their supported by an urgent messat
from the southern Viceroys asking Il
powers to bring pressure to bear up'
Russia to induce her to withdraw Il
treaty. So far as the United States
concerned the appeals were barren
- result.
NEW YORK, March pa cable
the Sun from Shanghai says The vic
roys are still vigorously opposing q
ratification of the Russo-Chinese co
- vention regarding Manchuria. II
~ viceroys of Canton and Nankin a
lt' leading the opposition. Sheng, the |
III rector of Railways and Telegraph
had Interviews yesterday with Z
British, American, Japanese al
French Consuls and urged them to o
pose the treaty All fear that the ra
fication of the convention will met
az the beginning of the partition of I
- empire. Local business is at a stan
still awaiting results.
HEAVY FIGHTING IN TRANSVAA
CAPE TOWN, Marchc 24.-Seve
fighting occurred Friday, March 22T
80 between the British and Beers at Hal
beetefontein, east of Klerksdorp, Trar
wall