Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-08
ATTITUDE OF RUSSIA
INTERESTING DIPLOMATIC COR
REsPoNDENCE PUBLISHED.
Intention Alleged to Restore Manchu-
ria to China and Maintain
the "Open Door,"

In the Russian series OF diplomatic ex-
changes in the current volume Of Foreign
Relations is given the text OF a communi-
cation addressed by Ambassador Tower to
the Russian foreign ONCE relative to the
announcement that China was about to
sign an agreement with the Russo-Chinese
Bank. whereby valuable exclusive privileges
were to be secured by that institution. The
note brought forth the important declara-
ton frola Count Lamsdorff. minister for
foreign affairs. that Russia proposed to re-
her troops from that province. and that
there was no intention to Interfere with
the open door" arrangement.
Mr. Towers Note.
Mr.. Towers note to the Russian minister
for foreign affairs follows:
I'm obedience to instructions which
have received from the government OF the
United States. I have the honor to inform
your excellency that the American minister
to China has reported in q telegram re-
Gently received at Washington that Prince
Ching has agreed to sign the Manchurian
convention, and also a separate convention
with the Russo-Chinese Bank. under which
exclusive privileges Of industrial develop
ment in Manchuria are to be granted to
that bank.
II am instructed to say that the govern
ment Of the United States could only look
with concern upon any arrangement by
which China should extend to a corporate
company the exclusive right, within its ter
rttory. to open mines, construct railways
and to exert other Industrial privileges.
1T is the belief Of the government of the
United States that by permitting or Great
ing monopoly of this character China
would contravene the treaties which it has
already entered into with foreign powers,
and would injure the rights of American
citizens by restricting legitimate trade: also
that such action would lead to the impair
ment of Chinese sovereignty and tend to
diminish the ability Of China to meet its
obligations. Others powers as well might
seek similar advantages in different parts
of the Chinese empire, and would destroy
the policy of equal treatment of all nations
in regard to navigation and commerce
throughout China.
Il am further instructed to convey to
your excellency the sentiment Of the United
States government that the acquiring by
any one power of exclusive privileges in
China for its subjects or its own commerce
would be contradictory to the assurances
repeatedly given by the imperial Russian
ministry for foreign affairs to the United
States Of the intention Of the Russian gov
eminent to maintain the policy Of the open
door In China as that policy has been adj
vocated by the United States and accepted
terests within the Chinese empire.
Il am to assure you that the government
OF the United States is now, as it has al
ways been heretofore animated by the de-
sire to secure for all nations entirely equal
intercourse with China, and am instructed
to present to your eXcellency the request
that the imperial Russian government will
give due attention to the foregoing consid-
erations. which have also been addressed
to the Chinese government, and to express
to your excellency the hope that such meas
ures of procedure may be adopted as will
allay the apprehension of the government
of the United States"
Count Lamsdorff's Reply.
Following is the reply of Count Lams-
dorff:
THE imperial government, always des;r-
Gus of cultivating and developing the best
relations with the United States, is fully
disposed to remove the anxiety which the
proposed arrangements between Russia and
China appear to have caused the cabinet at
same time to declare that negotiations car
ried on between TWO entirely independent
states are not subjects to be submitted TO
the approval of other powers.
There is no thought of attacking the
principle of the open door, as that prin-
ciple is understood by the imperial govern
ment OF Russia, and Russia has no inten-
ton whatever to change the policy followed
Dy her IN that respect up to the present
time.
IF the Russo-Chinese Bank should obtain
concessions in China, the agreements of a
private character relating to them would
not differ from those heretofore concluded
by so many other foreign corporations.
But would it not be very strange If the
door that is open to certain nations
should be closed to Russia, whose frontier
adjo1ns that Of Manchuria, and who has
been forced by recent events to send her
troops into that province to re-esta blish
order in the plain and common interest of
all nations? 1t is true that Russia has
onr nod Mo- oI,v .yso l~,,&
tains her firm determination to restore it to
China and recall her troops as soon as the
conditions Of evacuation shall have been
agreed upon and the necessary steps taken
to prevent a fresh outbreak of trouble in
the neighboring territory.
1t Is impossible to deny to an indepen-
dent state the right to grant to others such
concessions as it is free to dispose and
have every reason to believe that the de-
mands of The Russo-Chinese Bank do not
In the least exceed those that have been so
often formulated by other foreign COM
panies, and l feel that under the circum-
stances 1t would not be easy for the i'm
perial government to deny to Russian COM
panies support which is given by other gov
ernments to companies and syndicates of
their own nationalities.
AT all events l beg your excellency to
believe that there is not, nor can there be-
any question of the contradiction of as
surances which, under the orders Of his
majesty, the emperor, have had occasion
" give ueTetO1Ore III regard TO the prln
ciples which invariably direct 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 Chinese
Bank. Mr.. Hay directed Ambassad Tower
to advise the Russian government that this
government did not know that negotiations
for such an arrangement were pending and
that neither Great Britain nor Japan was
consulted regarding the note.