Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-14
RUSSIA rs INCENSED
OVER COMMERCIAL TREATIES
MADE BY CHINA.
An influential st. Petersburg Paper
Advocates the Immediate Annexa-
ton Of Manchuria

A special cable to the New York Herald
from St Petersburg. Wednesday. says: The
news that America and Japan had conclud-
ed treaties with China for the opening OF
Mukden. Antung and Taktungkon came as
a shock to the foreign Office here, bringing
as it does the United States directly into
the far eastern question. The matter is
now absorbing the attention of the foreign
office where when | called, L found
marked Discrimination to touch upon the
subject and strenuous wish to draw away
upon other subjects. for Instance. the in
EQUITY of England in manning Japanese
war ships and the dangers of-the yellow
peril However. some definite reply was
promised me Thursday.
The conviction left on my mind is that
the annoyance caused by this new incident
is considerable In an article evidently in
spired upon the first reception of the news
the Gazette walks into the question In true
Russian manner Its views are worth not
ing seriously representing opinion con-
stantly heard. They run as follows:
LAS regards those treaties which China.
after extreme hesitation, has ratified, ths
Picking government has taken an exceed
ingiy risky step, which may place IT In
very awkward situation. China has by ono
stroke been opened to foreign trade In
the principal centerS in Manchurta, entirely
ignoring the position created at the present
time in Manchuria by the presence there
of our troops who are guarding railroad
owned by us
"These economic interests in Manchuria
have certainly given US the right OF by
pothecating. To say the least, ii was in the
highest degree impoltic on the part OF
the Celestial empire to offer freedom or
trade on territory not altogether its own
without previously obtaining the consent
and permission of Russia. Our country
cannot and will not permit its lawful rights
to be interfered with.
1T is exceedingly possible that the only
way out of the position viii be the formal
annexation of Manchuria to the Russian
dominic MS. Such step would be justified
on many grounds We are forced to it
and it has been brought about by the policy
of the Chinese government. Such step
would not. once accomplished. call forth
any protest from the powers, they having
long been prepared to expect il and regard
give rise to rupture with the United
States, the more as America has no
desire to engage In any actively hostile
politics, having before her full knowledge
that if anything in the shape of Japanese
and American combination were effected
Russia would not stand isolated but have
France ON her side.
Japan would protest but that does not
alter the present situation, rs, after
rupture which has so far been avoided.
change as regards the trading rights OF
America. The question could he arranged
without straining Russo-American rela-
lions. 1t IS well known that the American
practicalness. Where trade interests are
concerned it is always possible to arrange
some compromise with her.
China has imprudentIy forced others to
place dots the is. and the same policy
will be applied to her, TO her detriment In
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