Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-01-17
CHINA'S one FRIEND.
Interesting Role Assumed by
Russia Toward the Empire.
HELD BACK THE OTHER POWERS.

l War AO1sSy-" AAC sNSVRo "ssseA-
| churia-Talk Of Wolves and Tigers.
According to adyices received at Vic
toria. B. c.. from Kai Feng Flu by the
steamer Empress Of Japan, confer
ence was held there before the Chi
nese court started for Picking with
Prince Ching, at which the Chinese
| statesman submitted to the empress
| dOwager the suggestions Of the repre-
sentatives Of Great Britain and the
United States at Picking, says the Phil
, ,adelphia Public Ledger. The ministers
asked that the heir apparent, Pu Chun,
be disinherited; Yung Lu to be kept
from the Chinese court, Tung Flu
Hsiang be decapitated and that the so
called regency Of the empress dowager
| be abolished and the emperor restored
to position. Fearing to present these
suggestions to the empress, Prince
Ching demurred for some time, but
| finally put forward the suggestions,
and the empress dowager at once
agreed to depose Pu Chun and execute
Tung Flu Hsiang, but would not agree
to remove Yung Lu from her council
or resign her regency.
Tung Flu Hsiang is said to be beyond
the reach of the empress dowager, be-
ing at Kwangsu, where he is engaged
in forming an army to invade north
China. Yung Lu still retains his posi-
ton as grand councillor, and NJ. Lessor,
the Russian minister, has been max
ing strenuous efforts to secure his ap-
pointment as plenipotentiary to settle
the Manchurian question.
The Tung Wen HUI Poa publishes
the confidential letter addressed to
Grand Councillor Yung Lu by NJ. Les
SCR Immediately after the death Of Ii
Hung Chang. The document is said
sources and is as follows:
"As your eXcelency is doubtless
aware, the territories Of our two coun-
tries are in touch with each other and
among foreign countries Russia is the
nearest neighbor of China from a geo.
graphical point Of view. Everything
that affects the interests Of one fully
affects those of the other.
"In consequence of this Russia has
always looked forward to that day
when China may be prosperous and
powerful. Unfortunately the Boxer
disturbance broke out last year. and all
the foreign powers took advantage Of
the occasion to send their hostile ar
mics into China. Though we tried to
refrain from participating in the eXpe
dition, 1t was in vain. We labored
most strenuously to persuade the al
lied forces to evacuate Picking as soon
as the legations had been relieved.
subsequently when the Japanese at
tempted to snatch the power Of polio
ing the city of Picking from the hands
Of the Chinese authorities we stood OBJ
stinately in their way, and so their un-
reasonable attempts were frustrated.
when all the allied powers Joined to-
gether in debating to China the pun
ishments of those Chinese officials who
We're suspected by them of having
countenanced the Boxers, we eXerted
every effort to- get as many officials ex-
in order to protect the dignity Of your
country. 1t is needless to say that it
was entirely due to that strong and
persistent opposition that your excel
lency was not included in the list. We
have tried and done everything in our
power to protect the interests of China,
and it is for this reason that we have
earned the impla cable hatred Of all the
other powers. He, the late Ii Hung
Chang. was very farsighted and able
who had always been on
friendly terms with us because he
knew that Russia was the only true
friend of China.
"With regard to Manchuria, it ia a
place where the present dynasty had
It's origin. How can the Chinese gov
permit number of wolves
and tigers to intrude into this impor-
tant province Of the Chinese empire?
We knew that unless we stepped for
ward China would be powerlcss against
those wolves and tigers. We there
ore made haste in disratching n strong
lrmy southwark t. protect this prov
nee from being invaded by the other
powers. and our action in this matter
las had it's desired effect. fer by our
strenuous and prompt efforts peace
md order have been gradually restored
through Manchuria. and no foreign
,ower has dared to touch the province.
thus the sovereignty Of China in the
province has been maintained.
GAS general peace has been restored
md the court is about to return to the
Id capital, it appears reasonable that
We should hand back Manchuria to its
roper owner to quiet the minds who
re inclined to suspect that Russia is
Inning at absorbing and annexing this
important territory. but after careful
consideration we find that it is not at
II opportune for us to do so now. The
eason is obvious for China is newly
efeated and sad with the burden of
n unprecedented indemnity. 1t is not
within her power to raise sufficient
undS and maintain strong army in