The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-03-12

Washington. March s.-The Official
correspondence that has passed be-
tween the state department and the
several powers interested in the Chi
nese question discloses the fact that
Russia, suspected as she is by England
and perhaps by some other powers. Of
planning to seize and hold Manchuria
as her own, has Hpen every occasion,
when opportunity served to draw forth
a statement of her motives. declared
emphaticaliy that she had no such pur-
pose.
On the 10th ultimo the United States
addressed strong representations TO
China through Mr.. Conger and Prince
Ching and Ii Hung Chang. China was
told that the United States could not
approve any secret negotiations be-
tween China and any individual power
looking to the concession Of territory
to such power; and II was further in
sisted that, to be valid, any such con-
cession Of territory should be given
with the assent of all the other powers.
To still further emphasize the warn
ing against the beginning of a division
of China, it was significantly stated
that the United States did not regard
the present as an opportune time for
making any concessions of territory or
even for conducting negotiations for
such concessions.
The United States government has
not entered into any secret or open
agreement with Great Britain or with
any other Individual power, however
strongly it may sympathize with he
British desire to insure Manchl a
against seizure.
On the contrary our government has
from the beginning discouraged such
special alliances as to China and has
adopted the practice Of informing
every one OF the powers Of the contents
Of any statement 1t has addressed to
any one of them. 1t is felt here that
the greatest strength OF our position
has lain in this frank and open met
of negotiations and there Is no DISPOSE
tion to abandon it now.
Count Cassini, the Russian ambassa.
dor called at the state department to-
day and was closeted with Secretary
Hay for half an hour. Although no
statement can be extracted as to the
nature Of the interchange. it Is believed
that the ambassador took occasion TO
again assert the sincerity and proprie-
ty of Russia's purpose relative to Man.
churia.
Berlin, March 9.-The Tageblatts
special correspondent. who has been
travelling in northern Manchuria, Mon
golia, and on the borders of Siberia
and China for a year. and whose re-
ports. hitherto. have been correct with
out exception. has furnished his paper
with long letter which Is published
today. containing interesting details re-
garding the Russo Chinese agreement
| on the subject OF Manchuria. Mongolia
| and Turkestan- He proceeds TO give
facts concerning the proposed internal
| administration Of that part Of China.
| demonstrating that Manchuria will
become an integral part Of Rus
| sia, more so than even Box
hara. In regard TO Mongolia, ne
! says there is no doubt a prote4orate
has been established. as this Ia evil
denced by the hosting OF Russian flags
everywhere, the thorough organization
Of the district, the establishment OF
tax collecting offices and the opening
| Of branches Of Russo-C Chinese banks,
with no one but Russian officials In
charge. All this. virtually. has taken
place during the past six months and
began before the Boxer outbreak
Besides establishing direct communi-
cation with FHarsa (Thibet). where a
victory for Russia was scored by an
immense bribe OF bars OF silver, direct
telegraph communication now also ex-
lists betyeen the Russians at Kuldta
and those in China. even reaching Sian
Flu, where the Chinese court has been
sojourning. Without the knowledge o1
either the Europeans or the Americans
or their japanese allies. this CORE
spondent says Prince Tuan went Il
Kan Su provtnce Tin the northwesterr
fCONTINIYEn ON ETE~rH pAcE1