Morris tribune., 1902-01-18
CHINA 5 ONE FRIEND.
Interesting Role Assumed by
Russia Toward the Empire.
HELD BACK THE OTHER POWERS.

legged to Have Been Written by
Russian Minister Throws Light ON
Cars Policy-Why He Keeps Mani
churia-Talk of wolves and Tigers.
According to adyices received at Vic
toria, B. O., from Kai Feng Flu by the
steamer Empress OF Japan, confer
ence was held there before the Chi
'nese court started for Peking with
Prince Ching, at which the Chinese
statesman submitted to the empress
dowager the suggestions of the repre-
DentatiYes of Great Britain and the
United States at Peking, 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
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 M. Lessor,
the Russian minister, has been max
ing strenuous efforts to secure his APP
p0intment as plenipotentiary to settle
the Manchurian question.
The Tung Wen HUI Poa publishes
the confidential letter addressed to
Grand Councillor Yung Lu by M. Les
sor Immediately after, the death Of Ii
Hung Chang. The document Is said
to have been obtained from Japanese
sources and is as follows:
"As your excellency 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 geo
graphical point Of view. Everything
that affects the interests of one fully
affects those Of the other.
tsIn consequence of this Russia has
always looked forward to that day
when China may be prosperous and
powerful. Unfortunately the Boxer
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-
diti0ns twas in vain. We labored
most .strenuously to persuade the al
lied forces to evacuate Peking 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
in their way, and so their I'M
reasonable attempts We're frustrated.
"When all the allied powers Joined to-
gether in debating to China the pun
ishments of those Chinese officials who
were suspected by them of having
the Boxers, we exerted
every effort to get as many officials ex-
empted from punishment as possible
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 !
ency was not included in the list. We /
nave tried and done everything in our
power to protect the interests of China. |
md it is for this reason that we have
earned the implacable hatred Of all the
,ther powers. He. the late Ii Hung |
Chang. was very farsighted and able
statesman, 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 is
,lace where the present dynasty had
is origin. How can the Chinese gov
permit number Of wolves
nd tigers to intrude into this impor
ant province Of the Chinese empire?
We knew that unless we stepped for
rard China would be powerless against
hose wolves and tigers. We there
ore made haste in dispatching a strong
rmy southwark to protect this prov
nee from being invaded by the other
overs, and our action in this matter
as had its desired effect, for by our
trenuous and prompt efforts peace
nd order have been gradually restored
Trough Manchuria. and no foreign
over has dared to touch the province, I;
hus the sovereignty Of China in the
royince has been maintained. a
"As general peace has been restored !
nd the court is about to return to the (
Id capital. it appears reasonable that J
e should hand back Manchuria to it's
roper owner to quiet the minds who
re inclined to suspect that Russia is {
ming at absorbing and annexing this
nportant territory, but after careful j
we find that it is not at t
] opportune for. US to do so now. The
Jason is obvious, for China is newly S
afeated and sad with the burden Of 4
j unprecedented indemnity, It is not
ithin her power to raise sufficient {
,ndS@ and maintain q strong army in S