The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-04-29
ALL FELR The RUSSIAN BEAR.
1ereat" Powers Gannet Prevent
Seizure Of Manehuria.
GERMANY BACKS RUSSIA.
Russian Ambassador in Washing
ton Says That There is Nothing
lnimieal TO the United States
i'm Russia's Policy in China.

Washington, April 25.-The japanese
minister, Mr.. Takapiara, and Baron
Won Sternberg, the German minister,
called upon Secretary Hay today, and
It is believed that the Manchurian
question vas discussed. Secretary
Hay has no advices from st. Peters
burg or London, but it is expected
that he will shortly hear from the lat
ter Capital through the ambassador
there. These conferences and ex-
changes are all preliminary to the
preparation of a protest which is TO
Be made against the Russian de-
mands, but it is not yet clear what
form this will take. The protest, how
ever. must be directed not to Russia,
but to China, VINO will be warned
that the nations which sign the protest
will not look with favor upon any ac-
tion By China that will ALLEVIATE Chi
nese territory or will confer special
advantages upon one nation lmean1ng
Russia over others.
The tone of the press advices from
the European capitals printed this
morning has done much to depress offi-
=cials here, who have labored so long to
preserve the integrity Of China. It be-
gins to appear to them that Manchurla
is hopelessly lost to China, and the
best that can be done now is to save
as much as possible from tke wreck,
and therefore the effort will probably
be made to procure from Russia q
binding promise that the Powers will
not be entirely deprived Of the right to
exploit commercially. It may be pos
@sibls to secure the opening of one or
two ports, such RS was proposed IN
tho pending treaty between China and
the United States, which will probably
have to be amended in view OF these
last developments. :.
Having heard from the President,
Secretary Hay is now in position to
act respecting the Manchlrlan matter:
Indeed he has already taken the hrst
steps, although for obvious reasons lS
is not deemed we'll to indicate their
nature. But the broad statement is
smade that the department. OF State is
doing what It regards as necessary to
meet the issue. It is made quite
plain, however, to avoid mlsunder-
standing OF dispatches from foreign
cap;sals referring to the Unite States,
that this Government viii join In no
general protest against Russian action.
The State departments policy is 50
clearly defined in such matters that the
officials assume that it is understood
that whatever action the United States
takes will be individual 1t IS true
that It may run parallel to the action
of other Powers similarly interested,
but there will be no entangling al
liances between us and those Powers.
There is no apprehension among the
representatives of the Powers that the
Manchurian affair will lead to any
thing beyond diplomatic exchanges.
In the absence of anything Official
from his Government the Russian am
bassador, in note to Secretary Hay,
announced that nothing inimlcal to
the United States was projected In
Russia's course.
The call of Baron Won Sternberg at
the State department today furnished
him an opportunity to discuss Russia's
action at some length with Secretary
Hay. From Germany no official ad-
vices have been received, either at the
State departmemnt or at the embassy,
regarding the attitude of the Berlin
Government, 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,
1T is admitted, have a thorough un-
desrtanding, relative to China, and,
while it may not be necessary for the
Berlin Government to come openly to
the support of the Russian demands at
this time, the other Powers Will be
permitted to see clearly that Germany
is not hostile to Russia's plans. If
asked by the Powers to join in note
of protest against Russia's conduct
Germany's reply will probably be that
her interests demand that she remain
neutral.
mnpManc MDeT fEAVc GERAEANV