New-York tribune., 1903-05-08
RUSSIA'S ASSURANCES,
Pledge GiUen by Count LamsdorT
to ambassador To5cer.

Washington, May I'm the Russian series OF
diplomatic exchanges in the current volume OF
Foreign Relations" now in press, is given the
text Of communication addressed by Amoasss-
DOR Tower to the Russian Foreign Office relatlNe
70 the announcement that China about 10
sign an agreement with the Russo-Chinese BANK
whereby valuab bile exclusive privileges were TO
he secured hv that institution The note brought
forth the important declaration from Count
I.anaedorff Minister for Foreign Affairs, thar
Russia proposed 10 restore Manchuria 70 emma
and would recall her troops from that province
and that there was no intention 10 interfere Win
the open door arrangement. Mr.. Towers note
follows:
In obedience to instructions which have re-
ce!yed from the government Of the united States,
7 have the honor 10 inform your exceIency that
the American Minister TO China has reported, "a
a telegram recently received at Washington. tnat
Prince Ching has agreed TO sign the ManchulI4h ;t
convention. and also separate convention Win
the Russo-Chinese Bank, under whlch eAclusINe
privileges Of industrial development IN MAN.
churia 10 be granted to that bank oe
/ am instructed TO say that the government OF
the United States could look only with concern
upon any arrangement by which emma shoulo
extend 20 corporate company the eAelusise
right within its territory to open mines con-
struct railways and to exert other industrial
privileges 1-;.a5
States that by permitting creating nonoP-
oly Of this character China would contraVene
the treaties which it has already entered ~
with foreign powers. and would inJure the rlehts
OF American citizens by restricting legltlli a
trade. also that such action would lead 70 tne
impairment Of Chinese sovereignty anu teIlu "
diminish the ability Of China to meet It's ooLed-
tions Other powers well might seek similar
advantages in different parts OF the ChlIese FL,
pire and would destroy the policy or equeI
treatment of all nations in regard TO naVlgallOh
and commerce throughout China.
am further instructed 10 convey 10 your eH-
ceIlencv the sentiment Of the United States GOV
ernment that the acquiring by any one power OF
exclusive privileges in China for It's snoJecCs pa
its own commerce would be contradictory 10 the
assurances repeatedly given by the Imperial
Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs 10 the
United States of the intention of the RUSSIAN
Government 10 maintain the policy OF the open
door in China that policy has peen ,, aoFoI
Gated by the United States and accepted ny an
the powers which have commerclal llteIeS'7
within the Chinese Empire.
/ an TO assure you that the government OF
the United States il now as II has always oeeiu s
heretofore. animated by the desire to secure @ ior
all nations entirely equal intercourse VIII
China. and I am instructed TO present 10 YOU
excellency the request that the Imperial huS
sian Government will give due attention TO the
foregoing considerations, which have also peeh
addressed to the Chinese GoVernment. ana ~ ~
exnress TO your excellency the hope that such
measures Of procedure may be adopted as Will
allav the apprehension of the government OF
the United States.
COUNT LAMsDORFFss NOTE
Following is the reply of Count Lannsdorff;
The ir,perial government. always desirous Of
developing
with the United States. is fully dlsposeo 70 re-
move the anxiety which the proposed arrange
ments between Russia and emma appear -
have caused the Cabinet at Washington eu'
IL feels itself bound at the same time 10 DE-
clare that negotiations carried On between TWO
entirely independent States are not subjects 10
be submitted TO the approval Of other powers
There is no thought Of attacking the prin-
ciple Of the open door as that prlncipIe i
understood by the Imperial Government or Rus
sis and Russia has intention whatever TO
change the policy followed by her IN that re-
spect up 20 the present time
II the Russo-Chinsse Bank should OBTAIN con-
cessons in China. the agreements OF private
character relating TO them would not differ from
those heretofore concluded by so many other
foreign corpora tions. But would il not be very
strange If the door" that is open TO certain
nations should be closed 10 Russia, whose from
tier adjoins that Of Manchuria. and who has
seen forced by recent events to send her troops
into that province 10 re-esta bsh order in the
plain and common interest of all nationsE 1t is
true that Russia has conquered Manchuria: but
she still maintains her firm determination TO
restore II 10 China and recall her troops as soon
the conditions Of evacuation shal nave
been agreed upon and the necessary steps
taken 10 prevent a fresh outbreak of trouble
an the neighboring territory.
II Is impossible 10 deny to an independent
State the right TO grant TO others such conces-
~;o1s as Z, is free 10 dspose and ! have every
reason to believe that the demands of the Rus
so-chinese Bank do not in the least exceed
those that have been SO often formulated by
other foreign companies, and feel that under
the circumstances il would not be easy for the
imperial government to deny TO Russian COM
panies support which is given by other govern
ments TO companies and syndicates of their
own nafionalities
At all events. / beg your excellency TO be-
lieve that there is not. nor can there be, any
question Of the contradiction Of assurances
which Under the orders Of his majesty the En-
peror I have had occasion TO give heretofore in
regard 10 the principles which invariably di-
rect the policy Of Russia.
Because Of the announcement of the Anglo
japanese agreement at about the same time,
Mr. Hay addressed the Russian Government
relative TO the Russo-Chnese Bank Mr.. Hay
directed Ambassador Tower TO advise the Rus
sian Government that this government did not
know that negotiations for such an arrange
ment pending. and that neither Great
Britain nor Japan was consulted regarding the