The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-09
Great Britain Asks for Our Joint
Action,
THE ANSWER NOT YET GIVEN
But Almost simultaneously the United State:
Government Had Instructed Her Various
Ambassadors to Take Similar Steps.
.Iapan.is Likely to Side With
Us, but Germany Is
Uncertain.
nv Associated Prcss.)

TOSDON. March S.-lA crisis has arisen
in far Eastern affairs, which, IN the
oninion of the. British Government, Is
or,,-o, almost than the troubles which
originally turned the eyes OF inc "oii"
toward the Orient. Secret negotiations
ara going on between the United States
and Great Britain with a view 10 III" "ai :
ing what both Governments appear 10
consider a. determined attempt on the
part of Russia to plant herseil perii'a-
nently in one of the richest tracts Oh ehe
Chinese Empire.
The conference held Wednesday between
United States Ambassador Choate ana
Lord Iansdownc the foreign secretary.
had nothing to dc with the Nicaraguan
Canal affair Tc quote from British
official, 1.-The Nicaragua controversy is
minor matter compared with the present
situation What Mr.. Choate did was TO
receive from Lord Lansdowne an I'M
portant message declaring that Great
Britain was not satisfied with Russia
declaration regarding Manchuria, as de-
lvered to Sir Charles Stewart Scott,
British ambassador at ST. Petersburg, by
Count Lamsdorf, and asking the United
States II they were prepared to take joint
action of such q. decisive nature that
Russia would have no alternative but to
recede from her position.
SIMILAR STEPS TAKEN.
Almost simultaneously. the Associated
Press understands. the United States
Government instructed the various am
bassadors to take similar steps. The
answer of Secretary Hay has apparently
not yet been received in London, although
the fact that almost concurrent instruc-
tions We're issued from Washington is
taken here to be u sufficient guarantee
that Russia's action in Manchuria will
not be tolerated in the United States.
Japan is relied upon to take line in
harmony with the United States and
Great Britain.
Germany, in spite Of the Anglo-Gerrnan
compact is regarded as rather doubtful
owing to Emperor Williams friendship
for the Car. France, of course will side
with her ally.
The significance of the present phase
can only be appreciated by those cogni-
Zant of the lethargic attitude of the Brit
ish Government hitherto regarding Rus
sian action in China. Within the last few
days all this has changed. What a week
ago was pronounced only in line with
Russias usual policy is now termed "a
grave and serious state of affairs
MENACING FRONT.
Lord LanSdoWne is using every effort to
bring the Powers into line, in order to
present to Russia such Il menacing front
that, without any ambiguity regarding
temporary or other occupation, she may
give up all designs upon Manchuria.
What prompts the British Foreign Of
fee to take such an alarmist view of cir
cumstances usually looked upon as fatal
lst sequences is the apprehension that
Russia, having had her own war in spite
OF the protest OF the ministers of the
Powers to the Chinese Government and
having put herself on record in the reply
to Sir Charles Scott has determined on a,
least temporary occupation of Nanchu-
ria, will refuse to back down That she
must do SO Lord Lansdowne considers
vital, both for the future of China and
Tor the continued existence of the concert
of Powers.
PARTITION. THREATENED.
Count Lamsdorgs reply to Sir Charles
Scott is considered quite unsatisfactory.
IF such excuses are accepted by the
Powers" said a British official last even
ing TO the Associated Press there will
be nothing to prevent the immediate par
tition of China for which almost exactly
the same verbiage any European power
could Justify the occupation OF other
provinces.
Upon the degree of support afforded
the movement by Germany and Japan
depends the result of what is considered
to be the almost synchronous action of
Washington and London.