The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-04-26
Washington to Act Indepen-
IDENTITY in the Matter.
MANCHURIA SEEMS LOST
And The Powers are Able TO Save Little From
the Wreck---The MuScoYite Government
Has the Moral Support Of
Germany.
Germany.

10y tne Associated PreSS,)
Washington. April 25.-The Japanese
Minister Mr.. Takahira and Baron Won
Sternberg, the German minister, called
uEon Secretary Hay today and it is be-
lieved that the Manchurian question was
discussed.
Secretary Hay has no advices from
peeted that he will shortly hear from
the latter capital through the Ambassa-
dor here. These conferences and eX-
changes are all preliminary to the prep
aration of a protest which is to be made
against the Russian demands, but it is
not yet clear what form this will take.
These protests must be directed not to
Russia but TO China who will be warn
ed that the nations which sign the pro-
tests will not look with favor upon any
action by China that will ALLEVIATE Chi
nese territory or will confer special ad-
vantage upon one nation (meaning Rus
sia) over others.
The tone of the press advices from
the European capitals printed this morn
ing have done much to depress officials
here who have labored so long to pre-
serve the integrity of China. 1t begins
| to appear to them that Manchuria is
hopelessly lost TO China and the best
that can be done now is to save as much
ass possible from the wreck and there
fore, the effort will probably be made
TO procure from Russia a binding promise
that the powers will not be entirely de-
prived of the right to exploit Manchu-
ria commercially. 1t may be possible
to secure the opening of one or two
ports such as was proposed in the pend
ing treaty between China and the United
States which will probably have to be
amended in view Of these last develop
ments
Having heard from the President, Sec
rotary Hay is .ow in position to act re-
specting the Manchurian matter. In
deed he has already taken the first steps.
although for obvious reasons it is not
deemed we'll to indicate their nature.
But the broad statement is made that
the Department of State is doing what
ii regards as necessary to meet the is
sue 1t is made quite plain, however,
that to avoid misunderstanding of dis
patches from foreign capitals referring
to the United States, this government
will join in no general protest against
4 RUSSIAN action. Inc state department
policy is so clearly defined in such mat
ters that the officials assume that it is
understood THAT whatever ftcticn tho
United States takes will be individual.
1t is true that it may run parallel
to the action of other powers similarly
interested, but there will be no entang-
ling alliance between the United States
and those powers
ic no
representatives of the powers that Man
churian affairs will lead to anything be-
yond diplomatic exchanges.
In the absence of anything official
from his government, the Russian Am
bassador, in a note to Secretary Hay an
nounced that nothing inimical to the
United States was projected in Russias
course.
The call of Baron Won Sternberg at
the State Department today furnished
him an opportunity to discuss Russias
action at some length with Mr.. Hay
From Germany no official advices had
been received either at the State De-
partment or at the Embassy regarding
the attitude of the Berlin government.
but the understanding is general in the
diplomatic corps that Russia has nothing
to apprehend from Germany in the stand
she has taken in Manchuria. Russia
and Germany, it is admitted have n
thorough understanding relative to China
and while it may not be necessary for
the Berlin government to come openly to
the support of the Russian demands at
this time the other powers will be per-
mitted to see clearly that Germany is
not hostile to Russias plans. If asked
nv the mowers to join i'm q note of pro-
test against Russias conduct Germany's
reply will probably be that her inter-
ests demand that she remain neutral.