The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-22
RUSSIA .RECEDEs

line we have ever had before.
RUSSIA RECEDEs
The information comes with a strong
degree of positiveness from Washington
that the actual terms Of the Russo Chi
nese treaty, as received by our govern
ment, reveal most astonishing recession
of Russia from her attitude of defiance
with respect to her tenure of Manchuria.
Under pressure, perhaps, of the grayely
revolutionary domestic condition in En-
ropean Russia, as we'll as because of the
Angles Japan treaty, which commits those
powers to the defense Of the integrity OF
the Chinese empire with the avoWed NOR
al support of our own government, Rus
STA has signed a treaty with China look
ing to the same end, agreeing to withdraw
her troops in twelve months, except an
inconsiderable force to protect the rail-
way to Dalny in the LiaoTung peninsula.
The evacuation of Nieu-c hwang was con-
ditioned upon the evacuation of Tientsin
by Germany, who has not as yet made any
from shantung province, where she has
established a colony, and claims the
hinterland back to the Yellow river.
In the signed treaty it appears, how
ever, that Russia proposes to get out Of
Manchuria within a year, bag and bag
gage, Indicating both civil and military
domination. and surrendering her, claim
to exclusive railway and mining prlvi-
leges, her railway lines, built at large
cost, to be handed over. to the Chinese
authorities.
Such a Transformation of the character
Of old Adam Fad, if really genuine is the
most astonishing case of an Ethiopian
| changing his spots on record. It is true
Russia receded rather ingloriously from
the San Stefano treaty she forced from
Turkey in 1873 and which handed over to
her Turkish territory from the Balkans
down to- the Aegean sea, but she, in that
| case, found herself face to face with all
the big powers of Europe, who threa tened
her plunder. But, in the case Of Man
churia, she has constructed an extension
Of her Siberian railway through Man
churia, from Khulan-Chou on the main
line to Port Arthur and Dalny, with an
other branch to Nieu-chwang, the thriv-
| ing port at the head of the Gulf of Lao
Tung. Russia has had heavy garrisons
at this place. at tMukden, the capital, ant
4 all other important points, with a Russian
political agent at Mukden. With all the
evidence of intended permanent occupa
ton all the other powers have been re
peatedly assured by Count Lamsdorf, tn
czar's minister of foreign affairs, tina
Russia intended to withdraw from Man
churia when ''order was restored" Thi
statement has always been received witt
great incredulity by the other powers, a.
the duplicity of Russia had been demon
strated on many previous occasions AM
it is known that she has assumed SOM
kind. OF protectorate over Mongolia AM
maintains 1t. But the altered Russo
Chinese treaty seems to be received a
Washington, and by the diplomatic worl
generally, with an astonishing degree o
confidence It has been believed tina
Russia would not risk losing a trick il
the big diplomatic game which China ma
been playing without trumps, but some
thing has happened which has suddenl
J echanged the range of Russia's vision.
In the first place, with the exception Q
the United States, the powers were at tn
fall of Picking in 1900: preparing to max
good their spheres" and respective hin
i terlands in China. Great Britain is nc
excepted because she was gravitatins
> notwithstanding her profession of friend
ship for China. toward reaping equivale1
advantages with the other powers.
Into this concert of wicked intention
: our government, through Secretary Ha!
threw a bombshell in the shape Of de
mand for pledge by all and singular (
them to abstain from violating the terri
torial integrity of China and to secur
the preservation of the commercial right
!, of all nations in China.
After much a-hemming and having, NJ
| Hays proposition was acquiesced in
the powers It is true Germany an
France and Russia held on to what boot
> they secured. Great Britain and Japa
held on to what they had formerly game
y, by conquest from China, but our govern
: ment called halt upon further predatol
: acts, and Russia now promises to will
: draw absolutely from Manchuria, an e.
ample which Germany would do well
, follow as to Shantung province.
Il 1t is true Russia has not Withdraw
vet: it is we'll to wait and see Wheth
: performance will follow promise befo
extolling Russia too heartily A leadil
u reason for Adam Fad to loosen his or
= from his prey is that Russia is apparen
u ly on the verge of revolutionary NOV
y ment, stimulated by the wholesale arres
II of university students, whose leaders
: clare that the time has come for chan
u in the form of government and are usil
i all their influence to unite the disco
: tented workmen and all the groups of t
u revolutionary class. The troops wit
drawn from Manchuria will probably
n sent to European Russia to provi
le against possible uprisings.
d The Washington dispatches indicate
,e probability that the interstate CONNER
+ bill will be amended so as to permit poe
s. ing by railroads under government supe
,oS,r H1eor, do, To-