The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-23
The Neutrality Of China.

A now and Interesting complication mas
n,w arisen in connection with the war
between Russia and japan. Two rus.
sian vessels, the destroyer Groz e'
and the cruiser Askold, recently put ~ ~
at the port OF Shanghai for repairs l ~
Taotai ordered these vessels 70 Mo oNs
ont. hut they declined to do so, and on
sun,,nv q Japanese boat started up tie
river Ju to Shanghai. The United STATES s,L't'ss
torpedoboat destroyer Chauncey, sllPi'cut
her cable and followed the JAPANESE
Destroyer The Japanese boat was -ci te''''
ed for action and anchored off the u sN
where the Russian cruiser 4Askold as IS
undergoing repairs; The cha .lfg' came
to anchor practically between N A d l''' y
and the Japanese destroyer.
Without being Informed ms TO All the
fac cts, 1t appears at this distance tnae
The neutrality of Shanghai was threaten
I'd. ana hence the action Of the Japan.
csc vessel and the American vessel
An interesting statement concerning nc IN NJ
the entire question Of Chtna's neutfa LII
was given on Sunday to the Asso cia l =
press by the Japanese government. ~ ~
mis- 1t Is stated that the status of emma
in the present struggle is unique. Nearly
all the military opera ions are are ca r ,i's
5cr within her borders Although she y
mt party to the conflict. her terri
tories are in part beliigerent and N n .pastt
neutral. The japanese government eli
Yraret, to respect the neutrality Of China
outside of the regi ons actually in n
in war, provided that Russia made sa!I y
similar engagement and carried Cd IL out
In good faith. The Japanese gov r mi q
considered that it was preclnded by this
engagement from occupying or making lflsllSl
use for warlike purposes Of any kind XII 5 OF
territory or ports Of China outside the the
zone which had heen made.Sthe t neal
OF war. It equally seemed to ne = Ia a pan
csc government that any such occupation
a, use Of neutral Chinese Terrific Dry ors
pcrts by the Russian forces would give
effect to the proyiso in the Japan sc en-.
ga cement and juufy her in consid er N
territory or potts SO occupied anu e used
as belligerent. Recently q Russian war ar
ship from Port Arthur sought q asylum VI N
in the harbor Of Chefoo. In taking tlg that that
step Japan considered that the vessel
was guilty Of a breach OF the ne e az
&, China. ana that for the time being
the port Of Chefoo became belllgerSe elt
hut with the Termination Of the lncl &
dent the neutrality OF the port was re- lti
4, -
svved. 5i
FINALLY, as already stated, the Iau sslan
cruiser Askold and the destroyer Gro Gro
zoyo pit IN at Shanghai for re pairs II .;
! and refused to disarm or cave gIhe
| Ia panese government concludes the
| Il tement. nhas no Intention Of disre-s
gardng china's neutrality 50 long t as q y {
is respected by Russia but cannot con !.
sent chat Russian warships, as result
of broken engagement and n violated '''l;l;tt'1
neutrality shall, nc1iallenged, find In
Tie harbors OF China safe refuge from
capture or destruc ton.
IT is mantfestly greatly to Japanese
interest TO have strict neutrality entorc-
ed, for she has her own nearby ports
1 in which to protect and repair her dis.
abled ships o + war, wi ereas Russia must
depend in most cases upon the friendly
| asylum OF Chinese ports. But the other
nations Of the earth are also vitality IN
terested In preserving the neutrality OF
China, for their trade with China 1a
seriously involved.
Since the above was written It Is given
out from st, Petersburg that the Askold
and Grozovoi will be disarmed.