The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-26
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA TO EVACUATE
THE DISPUTED TERRITORY.
TITLE TO BE SETTLED LATER.
The situation and circumstances
Leading up to the Present Hostile
Attitude OF the Two Nations Explain
ed by Lord Lansdowne In the House
Of Lords-Russia Expresses Desire to
Avoid any Cause for Friction-Prc-
gress by Peace ENJOYS.

AouuoH, MarCn Zl.-ln the mousse Oh
lords today the foreign secretary, Lord
Lansdowne. announced that Russia
n Great Britain had agreed TO with
r their troops from the disputed
territory at Tien Tisin and reserve the
question Of title n proprietary rights
for subsequent examination.
Lord L~ansdowne supplemented the
announcement by explaining that this
dispute concerned an extensive area on
the left bank of the Pei Ho river. which
the Russians occupied in the autumn
n claimed by right of conquest.
Subsequently 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 a
therefore. part of the security of the
British bondholders.
The line was part of the railroad re-
Gently transferred by the Russians 10
Field Marshal Won WalderSee who re-
transferred it to the British. The
necessities of the allies required the
construction of a siding on one of the
pAONS ISACilCu w. anu TIE pTtStIlCe "
British workers on the plot was treat
ed as a trespass on Russian territory.
1t was subsequently alleged that the
russian marks had been re-
moved by the British. In these cir
cumstances the government, March
10th. telegraphed to it's representative
in China hat it thought the rights Of
the British or Russian troops to occupy
the disputed points can best be settled
by Field Marshal von Waldersee. as the
commander-in-chief. and General Ga
zere. the British COMMANDER was IN
structed to request the field marshal to
settle the immediate differences, reServ-
ing for future examina ton the question
of the validity of the alleged private
rights.
General GaZele was also instructed
to refrain from using force except to
repel aggression.
On March goth, the alleged remOyal
of the Russian boundary pillar occurr-
ed n the government instructed the
British minister at Pekin, Sir Ernest
Satow, h a Great Britain vas ready to
refer the facts to Field Marshal Won
WalderSee. On the understanding that
if either side was found to nave COM
mitted an irregularity it should apollo
giZe to the other. The government
added that the construction of the sid
ing should continue under whatever
conditions the held marshal thought fit
to impose. He (Lord Lansdowre) was
glad to say he had heard this morning
from the British ambassador at st.
Petersburg that the Russian foreign
minister. Count Lamsdorff, had pro-
posed that they should agree to reserve
all question of title and property rights
| for the examination of the two govern
| mentS and that in the meanwhile orders
be forthwith sent for the withdrawal
OF the troops Of both sides from the
disputed plots. Great Britain had en-
tirely concurred and thought the with
drawal should be carried out to Ffeld
Marshal Won Waldersee's satisfaction.
Lord L~ansdowne added that oun
Lamsdorff had expressed very moderate
and ~statesman!ke desire to avoid any
cause for friction between the two
governments. and since the receipt OF
Count Lamsdorff's proposal the govern
ment had ordered the military au-
thoritieS to larry out the simultaneous
withdrawal of the troops to the salts
faction of FIELD Marshal Won Valdez
see. So that there might be no room for
a renewed misunderstanding in regard
to the matters of detail.
His Iordship expressed the hope that
the result of the negotiations over
what was really a small matter OF
strictly local Importance would not be
allowed TO disturb the relations be-
tween the two countries.
The statement was received with
cheers.
Lord Cranborne. the foreign under