Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-04-25
RUSSIAN DEMANDS REGARDING
MANcHURlA so CONSIDERED
At WASHINGTON.
SECRETARY HAY TO PROTEST
Cars Government Has Repeatedly
Pledged Itself to Maintain the "Open
Door" and to Withdraw Troops as
Soon as Possible-Prevention of Rus.
sia's Plans by United Action Of the
Powers Said to Be Impossible.

Washington. April 25. - Minister
Conger, from Peking has cabled to
Secretary Hay synopsis of the de.
mands made upon China by Russia re-
specting control of Manchuria. The
demands are that China sign an agree.
ment practically ceding to Russia SOW
ereignty of Manchuria and excluding
other nations from that country. Mr..
Conger also confirms the report that
con, has informed Prince Ching, presi.
dent of the foreign Office, that no fur.
ther steps in the evacuation of Man.
churia will be taken until this agree.
ment is signed. Secretary Hay will
take no action in the matter until he
president and has learned the latter's
wishes.
The present impression here is that
the Russian action is a distinct breach
of faith with the United States. The
Russian government pledged itself
three times formally, and the docu.
ments are of record, that the "open
door" should be maintained in Man.
churia and Russian troops would be
Withdrawn as soon as peace was re.
stored. Finally the latter promise
took the shape of a treaty stipulation.
1t was provided that the evacuation
should take place within three distinct
periods. The last Russian soldier
should have quit Manchuria on the
8th of this month, according to that
treaty. But plausible explanation
for temporary retention of the re-
naming Russian troops was offered by
Russia in the claim that the country
was still disturbed and that
Vigorous Military Methods
were necessary in the interest of sani.
tation. Officials declare that there is
no danger of war with Russia over this
incident. The government of the
United States has recorded it's ideas
of what should be done in Manchuria
and as the result of Secretary Hay S
projected conference with the presi.
dent it is probable that a further re.
monstrance will be added. But it is
anticipated that Russia will, for the
time being at least, alfay foreign op.
position, or at least that of the United
States, by carrying out its pledge as
to the open door,
There will be no additional treaty
ports in Manchuria if Russia succeeds
in this last move. Newchang, how.
ever, is still a treaty port and until
Russia makes a further move of apply.
ing her customs system to that port
United States products may enter
there at the same uniform rate of s
per cent duty as are collected in the
Southern Chinese ports.
An official of the government, well
informed regarding Chinese affairs,
says that the step taken by Russia is
one for which she has been preparing
for number of years. Extraordinary
as IL may seem, he says, that there ap-
pears to be no way of preventing the
corsummation of Russia's plan. Japan
is in no position to dispute the action.
and. even with the assistance of Eng
land. it is doubtful. in his opinion,
whether the purpose Of Russia could
be changed. AS to the interest of this
government. he said. it was doubtful
whether the United States could look
with favor upon the far greater control
of the Pacific ocean which the new
move would give Russia. but he did
not believe any radical action likely.