Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-04-24
FROM WASHINGTON.

a vigorous protest, through the proper
dinlomatic channels, against Russia's
demand upon China for the practical re-
tention by Russia of the province OF
Manchuria. At the State Department,
this step by the Cars country is regard
ed as a breach of faith and an attack
upon the American policy of maintaining
the integrity of China, which was an
nounced more than two years ago. 1t is
scarcely probable that the United States
would Join with any other power in for
chile action against Russia, but the State
Department will forward to the Russian
Foreign Office, at the proper time, an
emphatic statement of the sentiments OF
this government in the matter 1t Is
pointed out that the text of Russia's de-
mand is so worded that it may mean
much or little as Russia may see tit to
interpret it or put it into effect. Under
the agreement with the powers Russia
was to evacuate Manchuria on or before
October next.
A dispatch form Minister COnger at
Pekin to the State Department today
confirms the press dispatches regarding
Rugsia's demand It's text is not made
public. Although officials of the State
Department must necessarily be discreet
in their utterances upon such questions
there can be no doubt that the gravest
apprehension is entertained here. 1t Is
believed that the representations to be
made to Russia will result either in her
recession from her present attitude or IN
the strainiDg of kindly relations. The
State Department does not openly de-
clare Russia to be guilty OF a breach OF
faith but the inference cannot be avoided.
Meanwhile President Roosevelt is being
consulted by telegraph and until reply
is received from him the policy of the
government well not be definitely de-
termined. At present the foreign naval
forces in all Chinese waters are as fol-
lows: Great Britain, battleships OF
IL. $50 tons each, and 6 cruisers; United
States, the battleships Oregon and Ken
lucky; the cruiser New Orleans and the
gunboat Helena, all at Yokohoma;
Japan, 6 battleships and cruisers, all OF
high grade; France, small battleship
and 2 cruisers; Germany, cruisers.
Postmaster General Payne this after
noon sent to Attorney General Knox the
papers in the Tyner case. These papers
embrace General Tyner's letter of res
ignation and its acceptance, and the
l5tter from Mr.. Payne summarily dis
missing General Tyner and setting forth
the details of the safe rifing. Affidavits
are also enclosed bearing upon Mrs.
Tyner's visit, from G. A. G. Christiancy
and ID. Y. Miller, assistant to the AS
sistant Attorney General, the steno-
grapher and the negro messenger An
drews, that of the two inspectors and
some confidential communications from
Mr.. Payne and 4th Assistant Bristow.
1t is learned at the department that Mrs.
Tvner visited the room formerly Oc-
cupied by Gen. Tyner at 3.45 O'Clock
Tuesday but that Mr.. Christiancy, his
assistant, did not notify Mr.. Payne OF
her presence until 4.45 o'clock. he
was instructed to return Immediately
and not to leave Mrs. Tyner unattendeda
moment. When he reached the office with
an inspector, Mrs. Tyner had departed.
Mr.. Christiancy refused to discuss the
case, although he emphatically denies
any knowledge at that time of what was
going on in Tyners Office Department
officials declare that the papers now Of
fered them by Mr. Tyner's attorneys are
of no special interest 1t is understood
that if the papers had been promptly
turned over to the inspectors who de-
manded them from Mrs. Tyner, Tuesday
afternoon, there would have been no fur
Their action taken. The department
would have no means now of knowing
whether or not the papers offered had
been tempered with since their abstrac-
ton. Mr.. Payne announces that the
case is no longer in his charge, and
that if any arrests are to be made
such action must be instituted
by the Department of Justice. 1t Is
denied that the department had previous
" inspected the private safe in Judge
Tyner's office. tits known, however,
that Fourth Assistant Bristow would
within day or two have demanded that
it be opehed for the inspection of the
papers therein. The Tyner safe. 50
called, is similar to that installed in each
department. These are used for the care
of papers of strictly confidential char
acter relating to the business of the de-
partment. Clerks do not have access 10
them. 1t is presumed that, in the abb
sence of more definite information,
papers of that character we're deposited
in the safe in the assistant attorney gen.
erals Office
The Department of Justice has not
taken official cognizance of the Tyner
case since the papers presenting the
features of the case against him have
not yet been received from the POstoffice
Department. Attorney General Knox
says that Postmaster General Payne
called on him Wednesday and told him
of Mrs. Tyner's visit to the Office and
the taking of the contents of the safe.
General Payne did not then know what
papers had been removed. He wanted
to know whether he had the right to re-
move General Tyner from Office At
torney General Knox advised him that
he had the right, as the assistant at
torney general for the postoffice de-
partment is not in any sense
connected with the Department of Jus