The sun., 1903-04-27
The Meaning Of Russia's New Move.

The Meaning Of Russia's New Move.
II Is hard to believe that the st. Peters,
burg Government will insist upon the
demands which 1t has presented to
China as conditions precedent to the
evacuation Of Manchuria. These con-
ditions, IL tho published synopsis Of
them be correct-its correctness is
vouched for by Sir ERNEST SArow, the
British Minister at Pekin-are incom-
patible not only with the general assur-
anoes given by Russia to the treaty
Powers respecting the preservation Of
China's territorial integrity and the
maintenance OF the open door, but
also with a specific promise repeatedly
made to our own State Department.
Under the circumstances, 1t was ex-
pected that Q protest couched in strong
terms would be submitted to the Russian
Foreign Offios by the United States as
we'll az by Great Britain and Japan.
It will BE- remembered that Russia
had agreed to evacuate Newchwang on
April 8, and the rest Of southern Man
churia in September. According to ono
telegram, the evacuation Of Newchwang
was nominally effected on the date
fixed. but this report was subsequently
denied, and now seems to have had no
foundation. just when the Russian
Charge d'Affaires informed the Chinese
Foreign Office that no further steps
toward evacuation would be taken I'M
til certain conditions were complied with
is not yet known, nor were the CON-
ditions themselves published In this
country until Friday, April "a.
The purport Of the conditions was at
once recognized as tantamount to de-
mand that Russian sovereignty should
be practically recognized throughout
Aianchuria. 1t is obvious that II China
was to resume possession Of Manchuria.
she would regain the right Of establish
ing new treaty ports therein and OF
granting erequdturs to foreign Consuls
at such places. In the treaty Of COM
merce now in course Of negotiation be-
tween China and the United States, we
have asked for the opening Of treaty
ports at Mukden and Tsku-Shan. Tho
course now reputed to be taken by
Russia with reference to this request
would traverse the interests Of the
United States.
The commercial and fiscal purpose Of
the move manifestly b to compel foreign
merchants to ship all goods intended
for Manchuria either to Newchwang or
to the new Russian port Of Dslny on
the Nau-Tung Peninsula. This would
mean virtually q monopoly for Dalny.
because, a. tho means Of communication
between Newchwang and the interior Of
Manchuria would remain in Russian
hands, II would be easy by obstructive
regulations to destroy the usefulness Of
Newchwang ~ q port Of entry. It 10
true that for the moment the 81. Peters
burg Government oneu to mako Dalny
. free port. but, after the foreign trafio
with Manchuria had beam concentrated
at that point. the offer might b rsoon-
sidered and Withdrawn.
Tho only possible security for tAs
maintenance Of the open door in Man.
churia u the retention Of the admins
tratiou Of the custom houses at New
chwang, and such other treaty ports a.
may b established. In Chinese hands.
Then foreign traders would know pre-
cisely what thsy would have to pay,
to wit, an effective per cent. ad
valorem in silver on all imports.
It further appean that the Russian
Government does not contemplate q
complete withdrawal even from New
chwang. for her representative at Pekin
demands that she shall continue to con-
troll the sanitary regulations at that
port, and that the customs revenues
thers collected shall be paid into the
Russo-C Chinese Bank. or course, they
could be sequestrated II hoetiiities were
threatened. Another demand is that
Russia shall have the right TO erect its
own Telegraph wires wherever Chimes
telegraphs sxtsnd IN ManchuriA, using