Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
A PROTEST EXPECTED
Against Russia's Demand for
Manchuria.
LONDON PRESS VIEWS
HOW THE POWERS WOULD LINE
UP.
This Country, England and Japan Ar
rayed Against Russia and
France.
HOW THE POWERS WOULD LINE

LONDON, April 25.-The Associated Press
learned that there is in contemplation q
forcible joint protest on the part Of Great
Britain. the United States and Japan
against the Russian demands in the mat
ter Of the sovereignty of Manchuria.
Sir Ernest Satow. British minister to
China. in a dispatch to the foreign office.
has confirmed the published synopsis Of
the note addressed to China by M. Plancon,
Russian charge d'affaires at Pekin. Fur
Their official advices regarding the intentions
of the Chinese government and explana-
lions from st. Petersburg are awaited anx-
iously. In the meantime the British gov
eminent is not taking active measures, al
though Foreign Secretary Lansdowne in
tends to circulate pourparlers looking to
joint action from Washington, London and
Toxic. provided further information sus-
tains the present abstract of the Russian
demands.
The Associated Press is authorized by
the foreign office to state that If the Chi
nese government correctly represents Rus
sia's claims. these claims constitute an
absolute breach of all the undertakings
utterly abrogate the principles of the open
door. territorial division, and interna-
uonal comfy to which the British gov
eminent constantly and publicly has COM
mitted itself. 1t is added that in these
principles Great Britain always has acted
in concert with the United States, and it
is presumed that similar feelings exist at
Washington. Nothing, however, is def
nitely known. as with the exception of the
British minister to China no British am
bassador has yet reported.
Waiting to Hear From Russia.
1t is pointed out that Russia's explana-
ton may throw a different light on her
demands, although in official circles there
is a frank expression of the belief that the
Russian government has no intention of
ev2cuating Manchuria, and that she hopes,
after demanding the maximum, to secure
compromise.
The foreign office has heard nothing con-
hrming the reported dispatch of japanese
warships to Newchwang. 1t received no
information tonight regarding initiative
steps on the part of Japan, actual or in
contemplation. though no doubt Japan
would join in the protest
At the German embassy here it was
pointed out that Count Won Buelow, the
German imperial chancellor. had express
ly excepted Manchuria from the British
German Chinese agreement. Count Bern
stoff. first secretary of the German en-
bassy said:
while Germany is a friend and sup
porter of the open door, our interests in
Manchuria are scarcely sufficiently impor-
tant to justify our interference"
Both on account of international politi-
cal conditions and of King Edwards ap-
preaching visit to Paris. where Russian
sympathy is strong, the announcement
from Pekin came like a bombshell to Lon
don. 1t is discussed with considerable re-
serve. No attempt is made, however,
even by the most careful students of far
gravity Of the situation. Nothing definite
will result until Wednesday of next week
or later.
Lansdowne's Hands Full.
Lord Lansdowne is moving along slow
ly on account of lack of information and
because he realized that Great Britain has
her hands full owing to the troubles In
Somaliland, the governments attitude in
the matter of the Bagdad railroad. the
difficulties in South Africa and party dis
affection.
not to take any steps to embroil Great
Britain In unnecessary trouble. There does
not appear to be the slightest hesitation,
however. in joining the United States and
Japan in a joint protest in the event of
confirmation of the construction which has
been placed on Russia's attitude.
Baron Hayashi, Japanese minister to
Great Britain. was questioned tonight on
the situation. He said there was every
reason to believe the correctness of the re-
ports of Russia's demands. which he char
acterized as contrary to the agreement. He
pointed out that China had not yet given
lister declined to express his opinion as to
the possible action of Japan
Views Of the Press.
The daily papers of this Saturday morn
ing. while protesting at the cynical and
almost brutal methods of the Russian move
in Manchuria. take different views as to
how this action should be met. No surprise
is expressed at the tenacity displayed by
Russian in holding on to Manchuria. Lit
tie else has been expected since Russia
built the railroad and no one has thought
for moment that China would be able to
make an effective resistance. 1t is recog-
nized that the United States and Japan are
the only powers likely to protest. France
is expected to agree to anything that Rus
STA does, and Germany is considered as in
different.
The opposition papers attack the govern
ment for it's weakened policy in China"
and contend that it ought to have secured
some equivalent If Russia Is to have Man.
churia.
The Daily News referring to the claim
of the United States for treaty ports IN
Manchuria, which Russia is opposing, says:
ut is their quarrel and not ours. 1t is
to our interest to come to terms with
Russia in Asia and let her have Man.
ohuria If she will leave us alone in In
dia."
The Standard thinks that this virtual
seizure of Manchuria cannot be allowed
to pass without the strongest protests
and something more. The paper says:
1.-THE United States has strong claim to
act decisively as indicators, with no po-
litical ambitions or arriere pensee. of the
policy of the open door in eastern Asia"
Cabling from Picking, the correspondent
of the Times confirms the statement that
there is no justification for the alarmist
reports and rumors that. the legations an
ticipate outbreaks and are preparing for
trouble. Messages from every province in
the empire report that foreigners of all
nationalities are travelling unmolested and
with sense of safety and protection ex-
actly opposite to the conditions which pre-
ceded the Boxer outbreak.
Even the disorders in Kwang-si prov
ince should disappear under the new vice.
roy, and Tung Fuh Slang lives alarmed
for his life, fearing an attack upon him.
self. He Is not contemplating any aggres-
sive movement, for which he is quite un-
prepared.
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE.
Active Support or Acquiesence in Rus
sia's Plan Expected.
A dispatch from Paris yesterday says:
Owing to the absence of Foreign Minister
Delcasse foreign office officials maintain re-