Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-20
MENACE FROM FRANCE.
Said to Have an Eye on South
ern China.
A JOURNALISTS VIEWS
JAPANESE PAPERS ON THE EAST
ERN SITUATION.
Russian Diplomat Quoted Regarding
the Attitude of His
Government.
A JOURNALISTS VIEWS

VICTORIA. B. c., May 20.-Alfred Cum
ningham, manager of the Hong Kong
Daily Press, was a passenger on the
Kaga Maru, which has just arrived. He
says in an interview that Japanese journal
lists do not regard Russas action in Man
churia surprising or unanticipated.
While attention is being maintained in the
north by Russian aggression he maintains
that matter of far greater Importance to
America, Great Britain and Japan is over
looked in the south, the aggression of
France. He was of the opinion that France
and Russia were acting in concert, the
former in the south and the latter in the
north. He says France has bribed the
officials of Kwangsi and is waiting the op-
portunity to pour troops into that province.
The south, said Mr.. Cunningham, is now
on the verge of far greater international
crisis than that now on in the north, al
though at present the rebellion in kwangsl
is practically brigandage on large scale
The rebellion in South China, he claims,
is another factor. There Is no doubt that
the refoiners have organized the brigands
and that a. rebellion far greater than the
TAPPING rebellion ever was Will pre- ak
out before long in southern China. Large
quantities of arms are being shipped to the
rebels chiefly from the United States,
and. headed by the reformers, movement
will break out. perhaps foreign in its ma
ture, TO overthrow tne empress uoWdSci
and reinstate Kwangsu. He said he has
the best informatio that movement or
ganiZed On an immense scale and including
many provinces is liable to break out at
any moment, which will have immediate
and far-reaching results
Belief of Japanese Journals.
Oriental advices by steamer Kaga Maru
say: A review of the Japanese journals
shows a preponderance of expression that
will rpltnnlSh the ManChurta
territory Japanese papers contain dis
patches from many sources regarding the
war preparations of Russia. The Japan
Times says 1t is evident that Russia. de-
spite denials means to maintain her hold
on Manchuria even at the risk of war.
The Mainachi has received advices that
large forces of Russian troops are cross
ing the Yalu river and twenty thousand
Russians are now massed there. Inc re-
king correspondent of the same paper
quotes the empress dowager as stating that
IL was impossible to cede Manchuria.
whence came the ancestors of the dynasty,
TO Russia. but 1t might be advisable to
lease outer Mongolia, which is contiguous
to Siberia, providing the Russians would
open the district to trade. The correspond
ent adds that Prince Ching strongly op-
posed the empress dOwager and that the
emperor did not support the proposal.
The correspondent says that the Russian
authorities bribed all the officials, with the
exception of Prince Ching, prior to the
production of the secret treaty in regard to
Manchuria The total amount paid out in
bribes over 10000 taels.
A Russian Official Quoted.
The Jill Skimpo has long interview with
the Russian minister at Peking from Its
correspondent there. He says the reason
Russia opposes the opening of Manchuria
is that British. Japanese and Americans
who want to reside there have political
ends to advance unconnected with COM
merce. Russia seeks he claims, to pro.
hibit the employment of foreigners in Man
churia in self-deferse. because 1t is newt
able that the safety of Manchuria VIII be
menaced II foreigners go in. Russia. he
pointed out. has spent large sums and s?Et
large forces to develop Manchuria while
Great Britain and Japan have not spent
cent there nor sent a soldier and they Can
not have any right to interfere with the
district.
In conclusion. the Russian minister said
that in Russia the opinion was gaining
ground that the time was ripe for the st.
Petersburg government to declare Man
churia Russian province instea1 of allow
ing II to remain In an undecided state.
Japanese correspondents state that the
United States minister at Peking is indig
nant at the offensive attitude adopted by
the Russian ministers.