The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-04-28

Washington, April 25.-The japanese
minister. Mr.. Takahira, and Baron Won
Sternburg. the German minister, called
upon Secretary Hay today and it is be
lieved that the Manchurian question
was discussed.
Secretary Hay has no advices from
st. petersburg or London, but it is eX-
pected that he will shortly hear from
the latter capitol through the ambas
sador. These conferences and eN-
changes are all preliminary to the pre-
paration of a protest which is TO be
made against the Russian demands,
but it is not yet clear what form TINS
will take This protest however. must
be directed not to RUSSIA but to China.
who will be warned that the nations
which sign the protest will not look
with favor upon any action by China
that will ALLEVIATE Chinese territory or
will confer special advantages upon
one nation (meaning Russiat ever
others.
The tone of the press adviCes from
the European capitals printed TINS
morning have done much to depress the
officials here who have labOred 50 lOng
to preserve the integrity of China. II
begins to appear to them that Man
churfa is hopelessly lost to China and
the best that can be done now is to
save as much as possible from the
wreck. and therefore, the effort viii
probably be made to procure from
Russia a binding promise thai the
powers will not be entirely deprived Of
-iol,+ tn
mercially. 1t may be possible to secure
the opening of one or two ports such as
was proposed in the pending treaty be-
tween China and the United States
which will probably have to be amend
ed in view of the last developments.
Having heard from the president
Secretary Hay is now in position 20 act
respecting the Manchurian matter. ~
deed. he has already taken the Htst
steps, although for obvious reasons 1t
is not deemed we'll to indicate their
nature But the broad statement is
made that the department of state IS
doing what it regards as necessary TO
meet the issue.
There is no apprehension among the
representatives of the powers tnat the
Manchurian affair will lead to anything
beyOnd diplomatic exchanges
In the absence of anything OfHclal
from his government the Russian am
bassador in a note to Secretary Hay
announced that nothing inim1cal % the
United States was projected in Russia's
course The call of Baron Won Stern
burg at the state department today
furnished him an opportunity to dis
cuss RuSsia's action at some length
with Mr.. Hay.
From Germany no official adviCes
had been received either at the state
department or at the embassy regard
ing the attitude of the Berlin govern
tnent but the understanding is general
in the diplomatic corps that Russia has
nothing to apprehend from Germany in
the stand she has taken IN Manchuria
Russia and Germany, it is admitted,
have a thorough understanding rela-
tive to China. and while it may not be
necessary for the government 20 come
openly to the support of the Russian
demands at this time. the other powers
will be rermitted to see clearly that
Germany is not hostile to Russia $
plans. If asked by the powers to JON
in a note OF protest against RUSSIA
conduct Germany's reply will prooably
be that her interests demand thai she
remain neutral
NO NEED OF CNEASINESS.
st. Petersburg, AprII 25.-TIe ofil-
ciaIs of the foreign office here express
ed to the correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press today intense surprise
over the report that American public
opinion is disturbed by the news ro-
garding Manchuria. They declared
that the people of the United State:
were being mislead by the japanese
and said the improvements which wer'
IN progress in Manchuria certainly
would be for the benefit of information
al commerce. The foreign office OIL
cialS added that no new Fundamental
conditions were being imposed declar
ing that what are now in progress ar
pourparlers concerning the act u
evacuation itself and the OrSaniZatIol
of the Chinese administration to assur
order The Chinese administrator
however. is not ready. Russia desire
an assurance that China Will niaintal
police forces to repress local disorder:
which are continuous throughout Mar
churia, especially in the mountain
The detachments of Russian troops IT
manning in the country have no ObjeC
but the maintenance of order locall
until China is able to guarantee thu
order will be maintained The foreig
office adds that the number of railroa
guards ultimately will not exceed 20. .00
unless under exceptional circumstance
The greatest of all spring barga