Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-13

to an inquiry whether the "administra-
tive entity" of China involved Manchu-
ria. Japan was heard from quickly
with the answer that she would act
readily on the suggestion Of the United
States II similar promise could be OBJ
tained from Russia,
Italy, Austria Hungary and the Meth
erlands expressed sympathy with the
idea and promised an answer after con-
sultaton with other powers, There Is
reason to believe that Spain and Bel
GUM also will accept the invitation
Russia thus far has been silentand the
attitude Of France Is one Of hesitation.
This is the situation tonight, Mean
time 1t is learned that Germany Is adj
dressing the combatants with a note
in substance the same as that Of Secy
Hay
Regarding the attitude Of Great Brit
ain It has been a matter Of some regret
to the officials here that as the principle
is one for which the British government
has stood in the past SO stalwartly for
II TO withhold formal acceptance Of
the invitation until II has learned FUR
ther details. on the highest authority
Il can be stated that there are no de-
tails to the secretarys note, as II would
be manlestly impossible TO hope FOR
concurrent action by so many powers
upon any but the most general ines
That the officials Of the Washington
government could have had I'm nina the
neutrality of Manchuria Is declared on
the face Of II to be absurd Manchurla
Is recognized by this government win
Korea, 10 be the natural theater nt the
war. and for this reason primarily IL
the suggestion made that hostilitles De
restricted. ,.,
A high official OF the administration
has given these details Of the dlplo-
matte steps which led to the issuance
of Secy. Hays note!
ION Feb. 6 Baron Won Sternberg the
German ambassador under instructions
from Berlin. called at the White House
and laid before the president THIS prop
osltIon:
THAT the powers urge upon Russia
and Japan the eXpediency of preserN-
ing the peace of mind OF the chinese
court and Of respecting the neutrality
and entity OF the administration OF
China. The German government IN
yited the United States as the power
possessing the least political interest
In European and far eastern affairs TO
issue the invitation, In the event, how
ever that this was not practicable GER
many expressed her willingness TO take
the initiative. d,
"The German ambassador called
again the day following, Sunday, for
a further conference with the president
TO whom the idea at once appealed as
exceedingly practicable ana worthy or
execution. Secy Hay arrived In wash
ington that night and had a conference
with the president Immediately after his
arrival
"The next morning the German am
bassador called AT the secretary's resi-
dence for a conference, 1t was then
decided that probably the Invitation
could be issued more advantageously
by this government and the notes TO the
peace and combatant powers were that
day framed, those TO Germany, France
and Great Britain being cabled that
night.
Germany made this proposition TO
the United states without consultation
with the other powers. II Is said that
Russia had no knowledge in advance
of Germany's intention to take this step,
1T should be remembered that at the
time the note was issued there was no
official information that hostilItles had
actually begun, This fact necessItated
n slight changing In the wording Of the
invitation to the other powers"
In diplomatic circles the fact that
Germany and the United States took
the lead concurrently IN this important
diplomatic move Is regarded as having
great significance, Both In official ana
diplomatic circles heretofore the belief
has been general that Germany has a
secret understanding with Russia In
the far east but II was said tonlght this
government Is now convinced Of the
sincerity OF Germany's lnsistence all
along that her interests In the far east
were largely commercial and that she
wished the maintenance Of the integrity
OF China.
NO ANSWER FROM RUSSIA
ST. Petersburg, Feb. l2.--RussIa Is
evidently not prepared at this time to
give answer to the United states to
Secy. Hays note on the subject Of the
neutrality Of China. As previously
stated In these dispatches, hostllltles
having begun, the military authorities
must be consulted, and the ear doubt
less will refer the matter 20 Viceluy
Alexlcff, II he has not already done so,
Russia, II can be said, Is certainly as
anxious as the United States that the
war cause no risings or disorders In
China, indeed the attitude OF China is
already causing some misglvIngs here,
az she has not declared her neutrality
II is thought here that the action Of
the Japanese IN flooding Pekln with
posters relating their victories. Is part
OF well laid campaign projected from
the beginning to break down RussIas
prestige in China for the purpose OF vi.
mately effecting n union OF the two
races which would make the 'yellow
peril" reality.
Russia has already learned OF the po-
stlOn taken by several powers regard
lng Secy. Hays note
Germany and Great Britain, II Is un-
derstood, both express sympathy with
lts purpose, but with an important re-
serVatlon concerning Manchuria which
is now the theater OF war. Germany's
views I'm this respect were anticipated
but Great Brltaln's failure 10 give
Secy Hay unqualified support has
caused surprise here.