The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-09
COUNT LANsDORFF's DIsAvOWAL
REGARDING MANCHURIA RE-
CEIVED WITH DOUBT
AN ALLIANCE AGAINST RUSSIA
BRITISH FOREIGN OFFICE is TRY.
ING TO GET THE UNITED
STATES IN ONE
GERMANY's PLACE DOUBTFUL
Thought That Country Would, in q
Crisis, Take It's Place at the
Side of France and
the Czar.

LONDON, March "a crisis has arriv-
ed in Far Eastern affairs, which in the
opinion OF the British government Is
eravec almost than the troubles which
originally turned the eyes of the world
toward the Orient In this crisis secret
negotiations are goiAg on between the
United States and Great Britain with
view of thwarting what both governments
appear to consider a determined attempt
upon the part of Russia to plant herself
permanently in one of the richest tracts
OF the Chinese empire
The conference held Wednesday be-
tween United States Ambassador Choate
and Lord Lansdowne had nothing to do
with the Nicaraguan canal affair To
quote from a British official, the Mica
raguan controversy was a minor matter
compared with the present situation.
What Mr.. Choate did was to receive from
Lord Lansdowne a diplomatic message
declaring that Great Britain was not sat-
1sfied with Russia S explanation as re-
CARDS Manchuria delivered to Sir
Charles Stuart Scott, British ambassador
at st. Petersburg, by Count Lansdorff,
and asking if the United States were
prepared to take steps of such decisive
nature that Russia would have no alter
native but to recede from her position.
Almost simultaneously, the Associated
Press understands, the United States
government instructed the various ambas-
sadors to take similar steps.
The answer Of Secretary Hay has ap-
parently not yet been received in London
although the fact that almost concurrent
instructions were issued from Washing
ton are taken to be a sufficient guar
antee that Russia's actions in Manchuria
will not be tolerated by the United States.
Japan, it. is understood is ready to take
sides with Great Britain and the United
States. Germany, in spite of the Anglo
German agreement, is regarded as rather
doubtful, owing to Emperor Williams
friendship for the czar. France, of
course, will side with her ally.
The significance of the present phase
can only be appreciated by those cogni-
zent of the lethargic attitude of the
British government hitherto regarding
Russian action in China. Within the
last few days all this has changed. What
a week or two ago was pronounced only
in line with Russias useful policy, is
now termed "a grave and serious state of
affairs
Lord Lansdowne is using every effort
to bring the powers into line in order to
present to Russia such a menacing front
that without any ambiguity regarding
temporary or other occupation she may
give up all designs upon Manchuria.
What prompts the British foreign office
to take such an alarmist view Of circum-
stances usually looked upon as fatalistie
sequence is the apprehension that Rus
sia, having held her own in spite of the
protest of the ministers of the powers,
with the Chinese government, and having
put herself on record in the reply to Sir
Charles Scott as determined at least on
a temporary occupation of Manchuria,
will refuse to back down. That she shall
do so Lord Lansdowne considers vital to
both for the future of China and for the
continued existence of the concert of the
powers.
Count Lansdorff's reply to Sir Charles
Scott is considered unsatisfactory.
III such excuses were accepted by the
powers said a British official last
evening, there would be nothing to pre-
vent the immediate partition of China
for with almost exactly the same vcrbi-
age any European power could justify
the occupation of other provinces"
Upon the degree of support accorded
the movement 10y Germany ard Japan
depends the result of what is considered
one of the most synchronous actions
of Washington and London.
The whole affair is guarded with the
greatest secrecy, and it was not appar-
emily without motive that a special dis
patch was allowed to go from London
announcing that the negotiations going
on between Lord Lansdowne anu Mr.
Cboate related to the Nicaraguan Ques-
tlon