Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-14
No Official Statement of It Obtain
able,
RELIABLE DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS
Provides for Suzerainty Over
Manchuria.
D p l. o M A rs CO n f e r

Our government has not yet been able to
obtain anything like an official statement
of the contents of the alleged agreement
between Russia and China respecting the
protectorate over Manchuria. If it We're
not for the information, which comes to it
unofticially, yet is known to be reliable, the
State Department would not be able to af-
firm even the existence of the pact. So, in
this state of official ignorance, 1t has not
been possible to go very far In the direction
of protesting against Russia's course.
The State Department has from the be-
ginning sought to discourage any kind of
secret arrangement touching China, so that
the Russian agreement, regardless of it's
details, would still be Objectionable from
that point of view.
The opposition to the Russian move has
not crystalized up to this moment, and 1t
is felt that there is every prospect of a
contamination of the agreement between
Russia and China, unless the other powers,
which now hang undecided, speedily come
to a determination to oppose 1t.
To Restrain the Ministers.
In view of this impending crisis. the
officials here would regard as of secondary
Importance, the negotiations still in prog
ress at Pekin respecting indemnities and
punishments were it not for a belief that
there is grave danger that by an undue
insistence by the ministers at Pekin upon
the collection of impossible indemnities,
and the continuance of punitive measures,
the United States government will be
obliged. in Difference to public sentiment
here, to maintain an attitude of exact
neutrality. and withhold any assistance
that might otherwise be reasonably re-
quested in the greater purpose of checking
the contamination of an agreement, which
is almost certain to result in the partition
of China.
So, as already stated, Special Commits
sioner Rockhill Is. acting under the in
structions of the department, doing his hast
to keep the demands of the ministers with
in the bounds of the ability of the Chinese
government to meet, thereby following the
consistent policy of the department laid
down as far back as last summer.
Agreement of Twelve Articles.
Such information has come to the
hands of officials indicates that the Rus
sian agreement consists of twelve articles
not nine, as has been published OF
course, the chief concern of officials here
has been to learn how far these twelve ar
ticles affected the permanent future of
Manchuria- On their face it is said that
they show a return of Manchuria to China,
which would seem to be quite in keeping
with the desire of all powers
But this is accomplished upon certain
conditions imposed upon China. and it is
understood that these conditions in effect
establish Russian suZerainty over Man.
churia, with a Russian official occupying
the chief executive position, much similar
to that of the British viceroy of India.
Comparing this condition with that In In
dia, it is said that if the present agree
ment is consummated Manchuria will be
much in the position of one of the Indian
states, having a certain degree of indie
pendence, and yet conforming all it's ao-
tions to the supreme authority over it.
Chinese Affairs Discussed.
Chinese affairs received considerable at
tention at the State Department today, as
the Chinese minister, the British ambassa-
dor and the Russian ambassador followed
each other in long conferences with Mr..
Hay. AS heretofore stated, this govern
ment Is hardly in a position to make pro-
test against Russia's course, not being ex-
actly advised as to this course. But it
would not be surprising If in the informal
discussion with Count Cassini an earnest
intimation was conveyed to him that it
would be most helpful in dealing with the
subject If a clear and explicit understand
ing Of Russia's plans in this particular
matter were Forthcoming.