The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-24
Russian Audacity.

Our government, thru the department
of state, again has some serious oriental
business on its hands, for the action Of
Russia reported from Pesing, demanding
the transfer of sovereignty over Man
churia from China and the exclusion Of
foreign consuls and practically the .ex-
tinction of all Chinese control over the
territory, is a distinct repudiation of all
the stipulations Russia has made to the
other powers touching her purposes as to
Manchuria.
- The Anglo German agreement was'1nade
with apparently special reference to pre-
venting the appropriation Of Manchuria
by Russia. The Anglo-Japan treaty was
directly aimed at the encroachment by
Russia upon Manchuria. Our government
has most emphaticaily protested. against
the closing BY Russia of the ports Of New
chwang, Talienwan, Shanhakwan to for
eign trade. Russia has promised again
and again that the ope1rz door of trade
should be kept open. She gave her pledge
to the powers that she would evacuate
Manchuria and hand it over to the con-
troll Of China again.
If the present demand on China means
SANITATION of Manchuria' is to be con-
tinued, in accordance with the declaration
of the Novoe Vremya, which articulates
policies by permission of the Russian gov
ernment, that north of the Peiho we
cannot admit any other influence but our
| own. and that the other powers might
exploit southern China as much as they
! you in northern China"
The protest of the powers. two years
ago, prevented Russia. from accomplish
ing her designs on Manchuria for a time,
but she is resuming her audacious aggres-
! sive policy once more and, being in mil
| itary occupation of that province, she still
asks England and Japan, Germany and
the United States, France and Italy:
| What are you going to do about it?''
Russia has been the chief disintegrator of
the Chinese empire, and she has kept
hitherto all the territory which she has
by diplomatic fncsse or by. arms taken
from China. It is not difficult to recall
the trick by which the willy General Igna-
ticff got China to sign away the province
forty years ago, and to comprehend the
continuous aggression of Russia which,
later, has practically established a pro-
tectorate over Mongolia and is now en-
gagged in the more difficult work of steal
ing Manchuria, having come face to face
with the oriental interests of Great Brit
ain, Germany, the United States, France
and Japan, who must act unitedly If they
wish to prevent all northern China from
absorption by Russia, which. from the
thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries was
la province of the Mongol empire Since
then the disintegration Of the Mongol en-:
pre has steadily proceeded, Russia being
the chief disintegra tor, firmly believing il
her manifest destiny to transform all Asia
Einto a series of Russian provinces she te
command the trade of the Pacific ocean.
Having come now face to face Will
Japanese al European and American in
terests, Russian destiny is experiencins
:, a severe jolt. Our own interests in north
ern China are important enough to brins
about a very emphatic protest from ou
government against the effectuation Of th'
present demand by Russia upon China
5 If Russia carries out her purpose the doc
: will be shut upon US. Russia will eithe
have to be compelled by threat. of a bi,
war with the. powers, to seyacuate Man
: churia, or else, the powers, except TIL
: United States, will seek compensation i
t the seizure sof territory in middle an
i southern China, ands-levy what dutie
. they please on American goods. Our gov
t ernnent staved off the partitionsof Chin
$ two years ago. It wants no Chinese ter
VI ritory, but it is our right and our dut
$ to maintain our trade facilities in tfa
country, as against Russia or othe
| European powers.