The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-03-26
CHINESE ASK FOR INTERFER-
ENCE IN MANCHURIA. ;
AS JAPAN VIEWS SITUATION
Time Has Arrived When Mikado
Must STOP Russian Aggres-
sion in China.

London, March 25-The Chinese
minister. Sir Chi Chen Lo Fenf Luh,
called at the foreign office today and
urged the British government to bring
pressure to bear in order to prevent
Russia securing the necessary sigma
lures for the Manchuria agreement.
The foreign Office is still in the dark
tonight as to whether the agreement
will be signed or allowed to lapse
when the time expires, March 26.
The officials Of the Japanese legation
are inclined to believe Russia will sue
ceed in getting the signatures.
The situation is still more compli-
Gated, owing to the fact ascertained
by representative of the Associated
Press today. that there are two secret
treaties, one of which is to be signed
at ST. Petersburg. dealing with
Russia's military control of Man
churia, and another to be signed at
Pekin, dealing with her civil powers
The Chinese appeals for support
have failed to produce any direct re-
monsrrances from Great Britain, or
apparently from any other power>to
ST. Petersburg, for Russia persistently
adheres to her contention that the Sc
cret agreements concern no one but
herself and China. On this ground
Great Britain's request for copies OF
the agreements was abruptly declined.
1t was explained at the foreign office
that it would be dangerous and use
less breach Of diplomatic procedure to
endeavor to enter upon expostulations
with Russia which would only be
based upon information supplied by
China. In other words copies of the
secret treaties and alleged modifica-
tions OF them recently given to the
powers by the Chinese are worthless
documents and will remain such until
Russia herself chooses to communi-
cate the text of the actual treaties and
notifications.
In the absence Of the Japanese min
lister in London, Baron Hayashia, Min
lister Matsui, first secretary of the
japanese embassy who was inter
viewed this afternoon by represent
ative of the Associated Press, made a
statement of the issues involved. He
said:
"Russia's insistance, China help
lessness and the probable victory of ,
certain diplomacy tomorrow will bring
us to the brink of a dangerous situa-
tlon OF the powers, none of whom are
SO seriously concerned as Japan. Even
if the treaties have been modified, as
alleged, the changes are SO trifling as
to make the documents thoroughly OBJ
jectional to Japan.
Assuming that China signs the
treaties and suppose Great Britain and
Germany and the United States will
protest to Russia. But that is about
as far as they will go and about as
much as they will get. With Japan it
is n.atter of fighting.
"The question is whether we fight
Russia now or fight her later on. She
has no right to Manchuria and if she
seizes Manchuria she will be on the
way OF seizing Korea.
Our government I believe to be
seriously considering the crisis. Their
eyes are wide open and they will not
be driven to precipitate action by jim
goes, who are openly clamoring for
war. When they see that war is un-
avoidable they will not hesitate to act. ,
Japan has no need to be afraid as to
the result Many reasons in the aver ,
age Japanese mind are in favor of the :
struggle which must come eventually. ,
The chief reason against SO doing is
The fact that the Japanese are just be- .
ginning new industrial era, which .
would be temporarily killed, should ;
We endeavor by force of arms to pre- =
rent Russian encroachments.
If we follow the lead of o.her pow :,
RS and do not threaten hostilities we :
ealize that we must sit down tamely
nd see any other nation step in to =
make agreements similar to those
which China seems on the verge of
igning with Russia. This would
mean PARTITION of the Chinese empire
nd the end of the open door, If we
pposed we think we would have the
noral support of the United States,
which has been champion of these
principals, and also of Great Britain q
nd Germany y