The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1904-02-20

SECRETARY HAYS NOTE.
Attitude of the Various Nations ON the
Suggestions to Limit the Aren
of HostiIities.

Washington. Feb. 13.-'To Russia and
Japan, the Washington government sug-
gests the propriety OF limiting hostilities
within as small an area as possible and OF
respecting the neutrality and a6minis-
trative entity Of China, that China may
be free from disturbances and foreign In
terests there from menace"
This is the substance Of the note ad-
dressed by Secretary Hay on February
10 to the st. Petersburg end Toxic gov
ernments. On February in rote to
Germany. Great Britain and France, Mr..
Hay Invited those powers concurrently
to address Russia and japan with the
same suggestion, and on February II this
invitation was extended to Italy, Aus
tria-Hungary, The Netherlands, Den
mark. Spain and Belgium.
Germany was the first to respond. with
prompt acceptance OF the invitation
and the promise that she Immediately
would address the two combatants.
Great Britain was heard from next, ex-
pressing adherence to the principle laid
down in the note. but Withholding formal
acceptance pending an answer to an in
quiry whether the administration
entity" of China involved Manchuria.
Japan was heard from quickly with the
answer that she would act readily on
the suggestion OF the United States II a
similar promise could be obtained from
Russia.
Italy, Austro-Hungary and The Meth
crlands expressed sympathy with the
idea and promised an answer after con-
sultation with other powers. There. Is
reason to believe that Spain ard Bel
girim)also will accept the invitation. Rus
STA thus far has been silent and the at
titude of France is one of hesitation.
This is the situation at this time. Mean
time is learned that Germany is ad-
dressing the combatants with rote in
substance the same as that of Secretary
Hay.
Regarding the attitude of Great Britain
1t has been 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 1t,
should hold up formal acceptance Of the
invitation until 1t has learned further
details. On the highest authority 1t can
be stated that there are no details to the
secretary's note, as it would be mani
testify impossible to hope for concurrent
action by so many powers upon any but
the most general lines That the officials
of the Washington government could
have had in mind the neutrality Of Man
churia is declared on the face of it to be
absurd. Manchuria Is recognized by this
government with Corea to be the natural
thcater OF the war and for this reason
primarily is the suggestion made that
hostities be restricted.
Although Russia S answer to Secretary
Hays note asking her to respect the
neutrality Of China and localize hos
tilities as much as possible has not yet
been received. the state department
knows indirectly from London and Paris
that Russia will reply favorably. 1t then
will remain for the powers to fix the scope
of their note and to draft more definite
proposition for acceptance by the two
combatants. Satisfaction is expressed
in administration circles that Great Brit
ain as well as Russia has decided to waive
objections to the note. 1t Is expected that
all the formal answers to the secretary s
note will reach here early this week.