New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-10
RUSSIAN TERMS IN CHINA.

Mr.. Lessar's note to the Chinese Government
concerning the evacuation of SIanchuria is not
4 altogether lucid. reported by cable. but it
does not seem 10 offer any insuperabie obstacles
TO an equitable settlement Of the controversy
The first suggestion. or demand. is that China
shall not "concedeH any part OF Manchuria TO
any other power. We can see no objection 10
that. The American policy has all along been
TO maintain the territorial integrity of China
If Russia does not insist upon Manchuria being
coded 10 her. there seems TO be no reason why
China shall not agree not to cede II TO any
power. The second demand is similar, to w.t.
that China shall grant no concession to Great
Britain in Manchuria unless she grants it also
to Russia. That is blindly expressed in the dis
patch. If it means as it apparently does, that
no exclusive concessions shall be granted, but
that Manchuria shall be open to exploitation by
all powers on equal terms why, that is simply
our own policy of the open door" and an aban-
donment of the exclusive privileges which Rus
STA has long been trying TO arrogate TO herself
The third item does not strike us so favor
ably. 1t is that there shall be no Increase OF
tariff rates on goods entering Manchuria by
rail-that is. that however much 1t may he
necessary to increase duties on goods from
America and other lands. there shall be 10 in
crease on Russian goods 1t may as well be said
plainly that such an arrangement would not be
acceptable TO the commercial world 1t would
grossly violate the principle OF the open door.
The door must be open TO all alike, and the en-
trance toll must he the same to ALL 1t is scarce
ly conceivable that Russia will insist upon so
unjust and partial scheme that which the
cable imputes TO Mr.. Lessar. The demand that
Russian health officer shall be called in in
case of an epidemic at New-Chwang is rather
strange. seeing how incompetent Russia usually
is TO deal with epidemics, but that is q matter
the powers will scarcely quarrel about. The
items calling for Russian guards along the Rus
sian railroad and at the Russian bank are not
unreasonable and will probably not meet with
opposition. These apparently are all the condi-
lions required by Russia for the fuflment of
her pledge TO evacuate Manchuria.
We must confess some surprise at the moder-
alton Of these Russian demands. At the same
time. We shall be glad to find that they are made
in good faith and that they are all Russia is
making as precedent TO evacuation. In that
case the Russian pledge viii he fulfilled. and
ON October s the new commercial treaty be-
tween China and the United States will be
signed. opening two more Manchurian ports 10
the commerce of the world. At the same time.
we may expect the opening Of five other treaty
ports in other provinces. under the terms of
the new treaty made by Great Britain. Thus
these two powers which have so strenuousIy
stood for the open door in China are the pow
ers which are practically getting the ports Of
China opened TO the world. It will be crafty
ing TO know that neither Russia nor any other
power will or can obstruct that benefcent
process.