Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-28
UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Order Issued Under Guise
Safeguarding Interests.
IT PROVOKES COMMENT
REGARDED By SOME AS A CHAL-
LENGE 10 NEUTRAL POWERS.
Property and Trade Interests of For
eign Residents to Be Abandoned
Aimed at China.
IT PROVOKES COMMENT

NEW CHWANG, March 2S-The civil ad-
ministration late yesterday evening notified
al the foreign consuls and residents of
Vtceroy Alexieff's order placing the city
and Port Of New Chwang under martial
law. explaining that 1t had been so ordered
Tor the purpose of safeguarding the COM
merctal Interests of the port
Pending the publication of the fun text OF
Viceroy Alexlefrs order the following reg
uiatfons are ordered to be Immediately
operative:
"First-The entire territory of the city
and port. also all persons. without distinc-
tor of Jurisdiction and nationality, resident
In said territory, are subjected to special
regulations regarding a state of war
Second-All travellers arriving by sea and
ali cargoes entering port are to be inspected
both by naval officers and customs officials
Munitions Of War.
"Third--The Importation of arms and
ANN unition is forbidden
"Fourth-The expectation of contraband
Of war is forbidden.
"Fifth-Persons desiring to export con-
traband goods are required to deposit a
sum equivalent to the value of the cargo.
This deposit is to serve as a guarantee that
the cargo is not to be forwarded from neu-
trail ports either to Japan or Korea.
SlXth-fhe functions of the light ship
ana harD0r guides in the river Lao are
suspended.
"Seventh-Contraband of war is to con-
slst of such articles as are mentioned in
the decree issued by the car February %
defining contra band of war"
A list of cOntraband goods then follows
This list includes beans and bean cakes
ana other food stuffs. The interference with
this traffic here together with the opera
rnfa tn hnx, rry,Ig
STOP New Chwang's trade.
Unable to Land Cargoes.
Five ships which arrived outside today
and numerous others due will be unable
to ship cargoes.
The opinion of leading foreign residents
and officials is that. although the rights of
neutrals remain unaltered by treaty. Rus
sia assumes the power to annul these
rights; also consular jurisdiction and ex-
territoriality regarding the position of for
eign consuls untenable.
In some quarters the order is regarded as
an apparent challenge to neutral powers
especially to China, on account of the ap-
preparation of her territory and that it
renders the United States gunboat Helena
and the British cruiser Espiegle liable 70
an order to leave port.
The consuis will await instructions from
their respective governments insomuch as
there Is no law to guide the consuls' ac-
tons.
. The property and trade interests of the
foreign residents are prepared to be aban-
doned.
British Action as to Gunboat.
LONDON, March 2s-The under foreign
secretary. Earl Percy. announced In the
house of commons today that despite the
British consuls request that the gunboat
Espiegle remain at New Chwang. it had
been decided, after consultation with the
cOmmander-in-chief of the China station
that 1t would be inadvisable to keep the
vessel there.
Defeat Of American Aims.
The administrator agrees with the con-
suls to suspend a rigid enforcement of said
order until the foreign governments act, in
order to lessen the complications
The Americans here call attention to the
apparent defeat of American aims regard
ing placing consuls in Manchuria by the
execution of Russia's order
American and British flags were today re-
moved by the Russian military from the
property of citizens of American or British
nationality.
Foreign Consuls Confer.
The foreign consuls had conference with
the civil administrator today. The latter
informed them that the full intention of
Russia's order of yesterday was to proclaim
martial law. and also to annul consular
jurisdiction, and that the same already was
annulled