Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-24
CHINA ANSWERS HAY
Reply Regarding Alleged
Neutrality Violation.
WILL 90 TO PRESIDENT
ENLISTMENT OF CHINESE BAN
- DTS WITH THE ARMIES.
Matter for the Belligerents to Settle
Have Legal Right to Enlist
as Individuals.

China's answer to Secretary
Hays communication calling atten-
ton to the Russian charges that
the Chinese were violating neutral
ity was delivered to the Secretary
at his residence today by Sir Chen
tung LANG Cheng, the Chinese
minister. 1t will. be later sent to
the President. The minister called
first at the State Department, where
he saw Mr.. LOOMS, who is acting
in the absence of the Secretary,
who is confined to his home with a
severe cold.
Until the answer of the Chinese gov
eminent. which was received by Secretary
Hay today, has been read by the President
its text is withheld. but the following IS
an approved synopsis of the contents OF
the note:
Regarding the charge that Chinese BAN
dts were enlisted in the japanese army
the Chinese government calls attention 10
the. fact that they were enlisted nrst o!
against the Japanese army. II 1t IS true,
as alleged, that they are enlisted IN the
japanese army that is matter for the
belligerents. in the opinion OF the chi
nese government. The sup)ects OF neu.ia a,
power have the right as private citizens
to enlist in a foreign army. rms is an
established fact in the law OF nations 1or
which China cannot be held 'responslpis'
Wherever these bandits entered the Chr
nese neutral zone every effort was made
for their arrest and punishment, and IN
most cases they have been arrested.
No japanese officers.
1--WE find no japanese officers in our
northern army at all. We do find In the
government school in Pao Ting Flu sew
eral Japanese translators All of them,
however, had been engaged before the
war, and after hostilities broke out they
were required to give their word of honor
to have nothing to- do with the conflict
These are on the same footing as Rus
slams and other foreigners in educational
institutions throughout the empire ana
in our maritime custom houses. China
further regardssfhis as matter of in
ternal administration. Of which no other
government has cause to complain.
Regarding the iron ore said to have been
furnished the japanese army, that ore Is
from certain mines owned by Chinese mer-
chants, entirely separate from the govern
ment mines, at Hanyang. The iron sold
has not gone Through the furnace process.
The transaction is entirely between Japa-
nese and Chinese merchants. and In full
fillment Of a contract made in 1900. The
transactions aret not recognized by the
does not include this article under the heao
of contrab band OF war. 80
Watching Matao Islands.
1.-THE Matao Islands are said to have been
used by the japanese as a base for their
navy, The Chinese government for the
past year has stationed the swift cruiser
Haiku to watch, this. island and the local
prefect summoned there the gunboat
Haipu to patrol those waters. No sign Of
any landing Of japanese has-been reported
to the government, and it is unnecessary
to add that no such permission has been
given by the Chinese government to Japan
Regarding the articles Of contraband al
legged to have been sent to Dalny, no ships
have left Chefoo with the knowledge of the
Chinese government for Dalny and no clear
ance papers for that port have been issued
by the Chinese customs officials. II ships
have run the blockade, that Is the belliger-
ents' lookout. China is doing all she can
to maintain it.
Regarding the Ryeshitelni incident 1T is
stated that the seizure was as unexpected
by the Chinese as by the Russians. The
Chinese government did everything 1t could
against such seizure. The incident was in
vestigated and the Chinese admiral proved
that he had done all he could to prevent It,
The Chinese government later requested ia
pan to return the vessel, and while the Incl
dent is not yet closed China considers that
her government has done all possible in the
matter. -t54-
1.-THE Chinese government considers that
Russia has violated neutrality in number
of instances Bridges have been built by
the Russians west of the Lao river and
Russian troops have encamped on the west
side of the river, which is supposed to
mark the boundary line of the neutral
zone. In many places in the neutral zone
the Russians have forced the sale of pro-
visions. The Chinese have made many ar
rests of Russians smuggling ammunition,
arms and other contraband articles.
''The captain of the Ryeshitelni, while go
ing to Shanghai under military escort, made
his escape from the authorities in whose
charge he was 1t is stated in conclusion
that in view of the baseless charges made
by a belligerent China feels it incumbent
upon her to make this answer and let the
truth be known: and that the Chinese gov
eminent has not swerved one iota from her
neutrality and that the general attitude Of
her people is peaceful and has been appre-
ciated as such by the powers"
UNDER GRAVE CHARGES.