The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-04-27
RUSSIA WILL NOT
 TAKE BACK TRACK
Another Conference Between Mir. Hay and Count CasSinl
OPEN DOOR IS POLITICAL
While Sticking to Her Position in Manchuria Russia Continues to Assure United States That ln-
 terests Will be Protected.

l Washington, April 26.-Russia's demands
 in Manchuria and their effect on Amer
 can interests were the subject of con- | ference this afternoon between Secretary Hay and Count Cassini, the Russian em- bassador, which occurred at Secretary Hays house and lasted for nearly an hour. It is denied that the ambassador brought official advices from his gov- ernment, but the fact that he Is still suffering from an attack of lumbago. which has confined him to the embassy for several weeks Is evidence of the ur- l gency of the call.
 | Steps already have been taken by the l state department to ascertain the true in- 1 wardness of Russia's latest move. Am- bassador Mccormick of St. Petersburg l has been instructed by cable to present to the Russian foreign office a note, which while automatically known as one Of inquiry, is in substance a strong protest against Russia's demands Cabled in- structions also have been sent to Minister Conger at Pekin to express to the Chinese authorities the dissatisfaction of the United States with Russias demands, and ] our hope that China will not accede to | them.
 No Answer Received. No answers have yet been received to either note, though unofficial assurances are still reaching the department that American interests in Manchuria will be protected. In the departments note, which Ambassador Mccormick probably has presented already, Russla's attention Is called to the assurances which repeat edly have been given the United States relative to the preservation of the integ- | rity of China and the continuance of the open door policy.
 l Russia is also reminded of the severe blow to American trade which must fol- low the granting of the first two de- mands, that no more ports of towns in Manchuria be opened and that no addi- tional foreign consuls be admitted. Russia's reason for contending for the l closed door in Manchuria is the claim | that the open door is not a commercial, but political question.
 She continues to assure the United | States that in some way this country s interests will be protected in Manchuria. | The point is made that as the Manchurian demands are still in negotiation between | St. Petersburg and Pekin, the United | States cannot expect that Russia make concessions until the fate of her de- mands has been determined. When China has acceded to all of these demands, 1t l is suggested that a trade agreement of i some SOTl can pc Ttdcneu between tnlS country and Russia, which will protect our trade interests.
 Appreciating the fact that the interests of this country in Manchuria are those of trade and not territorial, Russia, 1t is stated, Is disposed to make certain trade concessions to the United States in Man. churia at the proper time.
 China has Accepted.
 London, April 27.-In a dispatch from St Petersburg. dated Saturday. April 2b the correspondent there of the Daily Mai says he hears from an authoritative source that China has accepted the Rus | sian proposal to modify the existing Russo-Chinese commercial treaty,ln so far as 1t regards the duties at the lake boun- | daries. After the negotiations with the Tsung Li Yamen, the correspondent con- tinues, the Russian minister among other conditions formulated the following:
 "All Russian goods sent to Central China shall be entirely free of any Chi- nese customs charge.
 Russia and China shall jointly agree henceforth to close the door In Manchura to the goods of all powers"
 This agreement. concludes the corre. spondent will come into force after the opening of the Manchurian railroad.