The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-08-26
NEUTRALITY
OF CHINA WILL NOT BE IN.
SISTED ON
BY THE UNITED STATES
Will Not Mix in With the
Mixup. .s

Washington, d. c., Aug. 22.-The
United States government does not in
tend to insist upon the neutrality of
China.
1t does not intend to insist that the
Russian warships now in the harbor
at Shang Hal shall be disarmed or be
forced from their present haven.
1t does not intend in any way to
prevent the japanese warships from
capturing the Russian warships.
1t does not at this time purpose pro-
tecting American interests in Shang
Hal or any other Chinese port If by
so doing it is found necessary to inter-
fere with the freedom of action of
the warship of any other nation.
This is the decision that was reached
this afternoon by the department of
state, after conference between the
state and navy department officials
with President Roosevelt at Oyster
Bay over the long distance telephone.
Instructions in accordance with this de-
cisions were sent to Rear Admiral
Sterling in charge of the Asiatic squad
ron now at Shang Hal.
Whatever may have been the attitude
Of Admiral Stirling or Consul General
Goodnow up to this time relative to the
serious difficulties over the question of
neutrality between Russia and Japan,
their position is now clearly defined.
The state officials however, declare
that at no time has there been any act
of it's naval or other officers in the
Orient, which could justly be construed
as having committed this government
to the policy of maintaining the hteg-
rity or administrative entity" Of
China.
They announce that according to ad-
vices just received from Admiral Stir
ling, no undue significance should be
attached to the action of the United
States torpedo destroyer Chaupcey, for
it is said its course up the river to
Shang Hal at the time the Japanese tor
pedo boat appeared was not for the pur-
pose Of protecting the Russian war;
ships or American property. The
Chauncey, it is declared, was conveying
dispatches to other American warships
higher up the river.
The officials announce that Admiral
Strings message is silent upon the
point of the strange anchorage selected
later by the Chauncey, which news
paper advices say was between the Rus
sian cruiser Askold and the Japanese
torpedo boat, but they scout the theory
that its station was taken for the pur-
pose of protecting the Russian ships,
for, say they, If Admiral Stirling had
intended to interfere in such serious
undertaking and had set out to do
police duty that rightfuly belonged to
the Chinese government, he would have
sent gunboat upon the mission.
An impression exists here that Consul
General Goodnow may have uninten-
tioDally paved the way to committing
this government to a maintenance Of
the neutrality Of China when he called
a meeting today of the foreign repre-
ises as they deemed necessary.
But before that meeting had assem-
bled cablegram had been sent him
carefully to abstain from any action
that could be deemed to be interfer-
ence
The fact that the conference was
productive Of no understanding is TAX
en- here to mean that when the other
European representatives discovered
that the United States consul had no
plan to propose, they discreetly decid-
ed to await instructions from their own
home Offices.
In fact, it is said by high officials,
that so carefully will this government
abstain from interference in the Rus
sian-Japanese difficulties, that battle
can be waged in Shang Hal, without
any other action on our part than the
filing of a protest and a request that
the customary notice of bombsrdment
be given in order that Americans can
remove to a place of safety.
1t is not believed here that Japan
would court the opposition Of Germany,
France and other powers having in
terests in Shang Hal by waging war in
the harbor. But it is accepted as a
fact that the Japanese government Is
determined to prevent Russia using
neutral territory as harbor of refuge
for her damaged ships or as a means
Of communication with Port Arthur
by wireless stations, as is the case at
Che Foo. 1t would not surprise of
licials here if Japanese warships de-
stroyed the Russian wireless station
AT the latter Dlace