New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-13
FAVOR Mr.. HAYS PLAN.
GERM4NY> ACTS FIRST.
Japan WI Agree If Russia Does
Britain and France Waiting.

bf'ttt UtU 4 fuVtC ~ utfJG.
Washington. Feb. 12-"To Russia and Japan
the Washington government suggests the pro-
priety OF limiting hostilties within as small
an area rs possible. and of respecting the neu-
tralty and administrative entity Of China, that
China may he free from disturbances and for
eign interests there from menace"
This the Associated Press is enabled 10 give
as the substance Of the note addressed by Sec
retary Hay or February 10 10 the St Peters
burg and Toxic governments. on February :. in
note to Germany. Great Britain and France.
Mr. Hay invited those powers concurrently to
address Russia and Japan with the same sug-
erstion: and on February II this invitation was
extended 70 Italy Austria Hungary. the Meth
erlands Denmark. Spain and Belgium.
Germany vas the Srst 70 respond. with a
urorapt acceptance ~ t'se 'r-it5-iCr tsrd the
promise that she Immediately would address the
two combatant7
GREAT BRITAIN WAITING.
Great Britain was heard from next. expressing
adherence to tn principle laid down in the note.
but Withholding formal acceptance pending an
answer 70 an inquiry whether IN" "administra-
tive entity" Of China involved Nanchuria.
Japan was heard from quickly with the an
sver that she would act readily ou the suEges-
Y
could be obtained from Russia.
ItaIv. Austria Hungary and the Netherlands
expressed sympathy with the idea, and prom
ised an answer after consultation with other
powers There is reason to believe that Spain
ana Belgium also wiU accept the invitation.
Russt, thus far has been silent. and the atti-
tude OF France Is one Of waiting
This is the situation tonight. I'm the mean
time n is learned that Germany is addressing
the combatants with a note IN substance the
same as that Of Secretary Hay.
Regarding the attitude OF Great Britain it has
been n matter OK some regret TO the officials
here that. as the principle is one for which the
British government has stood in the past so
staIwartly. formal acceptance OF The invitation
should he held Mp until the British government
has learned further deIlils. ON the highest au-
thoritv +, can b- stated that there are de-
tails 20 the Secretary's note. as 81 would be
manifesly impossible TO hope FOR concurrent
action by so many powers on any but the most
general lines That the officials Of the Wash
inrton government could have had In mind the
neutrality OF Manchuria is declared to be absurd
on the face Of IT, Manchuria is recognized by
tl.i5 government 10 he. with Corea. the natural
theatre OF the war and for this reason primarily
the suggestion Is made that hostilites be re-
stricted
II
4 high official Of the administration has given
these details of the diplomatic steps which led
up TO the issuance of Secretary Hays note:
on February Baron Won Sternburg. the
German Ambassador under Instructions from
I}eriin called at the White House and laid be
fore the President this proposition:
''That the powers urge on Russia and Japan /
The expediencv Of preserving the peace of mind
of the Chinese Court and Of respecting the neu-
tralitv and entity of administration of China /
no 4
States as power possessing the least political /
interest in European and Far Eastern affairs. /
70 issue the invitation In the event, however /
that this was not practicable. Germany ex-
messed her willingness 70 take the Initiative"
The German Ambassador called again the fol- /.
lowing day-Sunday-for further conference !
with the President. TO whom the idea at once F.
az pealed as exceedingly practicable and worthy /
Of execution. Secretary Hay arrived in Wash /
inston that night and had conference with {
the President Immediately after his arrival
The next morning the German Ambassador /
called at the Secretary's residence for a confer
aDce II was then decided that probably the /
could be issued more advantageously \
and combata1t powers were that day framed.
hose to Germany. France and Great Britain
reing cabled that night.
Germany made this proposition to the United i
States without consultation with the other
powers. IL is said that Russia had no knouI-
edge in advance OF Gsrmany's intention 70 Eake
this step.
7ote was .ssUcd there WAS no official information
hat hostilities had actually begun. This fact
lecessitated n slight change In the wording osrl
he Invitation TO the other powers.
In diplomatic circles the fact that Germany
md the United States took the Iced concur
emily In this important diplomatic move is re-
yarded having great significance Both I'm /
,ficial end diplomatic circles heretofore the be-
ief has been general that Germany had 4 S.
ret understanding with Russia in tha Far I
-ast. but IL was said tonight that this govern I
nent is now convinced OF the sincerity of Ger
nanys ilsistenee all alonG that her interests in
he Far East we're largely commercial and that /
he wished the integrity OF China to De main ]
aimed.