The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-12
OBJECTS TO
NEWCHWANG
BLOCKADE.

Washington. March 12-Secretary Hay
and Secretary Moody had a conference
yesterday I'm regard to the report from
Newchwang that Commander Sawyer OF
the gunboat Helena had protested against
The action OF the Russians In sinking
distractions in the entrance TO the port
and thereby preventing the egress OF the
Helena from the mud dock in Yinkow
when the ice breaks up.
Yinkow is tho port entrance 10 New
chwang. which Is distant about l5 miles.
It is an open treaty port and EFFORTS
have been made by the Russians TO have
the neutrality OF the port formally ac-
knowledged by the powers.
Failing 90 bring about this action, they
announced that hulks would be sunk at
the entrance OF the harbor to prevent
the Japanese ships from coming i'm and
landing troops. The Helena and
British ship have been I'm mud dock there
fer the winter and should the entrance
be blocked they could not get out.
PROTEST WAS NECESSARY.
A long dispatch was received at the
navy department yesterday about the
eastern situation. The officials sur
rounded tho cablegram with much Sc
crecy. and when Secretary Moody read
at the cabinet meeting a dispatch tell
ing Of the action of Commander Sawyer
in entering a protest against the conduct
OF the Russians IL was thought by those
present that IL was the Evans message.
IL subsequently, developed that Sec
rotary Hay and Secretary Moody had
discussed an unofficial report that Com
mander Sawyer had made a protest.
However. it was evident at the cabinet
meeting that both Secretary Hay and
Secretary Moody were OF the opinion that
Commander sawyer made only such a
protest as was necessary TO convince the
Russians that nothing shold be done to
prevent the exit OF the Helena when
there Is a thaw.
IL was determined that American inter-
ests at Newchwang should be protected
and that any effort 10 block the entrance
TO Yinkow would be detrimental to Amer
lean interests.
Late this afternoon an inquiry was sent
to Commander Sawyer 10 ascertain just
what action he had taken. Admiral Evans
was also communicated with
POLICY OF FULL PROTECTION.
According to one official instructions
will be sent To Commander Sawyer to
make only such representations as will de-
fer the blockading OF the entrance until
after the Helena gets out. There Is reason
TO believe. though, that the state depart
ment is contemplating the adoption OF n
policy OF fully protecting American inter-
ests at Newchwang on the ground that
II is treaty and open port. where the
rights " neutral nations must be respect
ed.
Should the United States take the
ground that Newchwang and Yinkow are
q part OF the Chinese territory which un-
DER Secretary Hays note Is TO be respect
ed by both Russia and japan as neutral
territory. then the Japanese would not be
IN a position to land troops there for the
purpose OF attacking the Russians.
If Il Is urged that Newchwang. being I'm
Manchuria. is a part OF tho territory
known q e the theatre OF war. and there
fore excluded from naturalization during
tho present conflict, the Japanese may
land troops there and proceed to do those
things that any nation might desire to do
from military necessity.
One explanation made yesterday after
noon OF the dispatch from Admiral Evans
IS that il contained n report on the al
legged landing of Japanese troops at Taku-
shan. IL was really repetition OF the
dispatch from Commander Sawyer at Yin
kow. and at tho navy department the Of
flcers say that IL gave no more ground for
believing the report OF the landing to be
true than was given by Commander Saw
yer, who said 1t was report from Che
foo