The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-31
JAPANESE Do NOT
M|NCE THE WORDS
Deny Charges Of Violating Chi
ness Neutrality
COUNTER CHARGES MADE
Russian Charges Are Taken Up seri-
alum, Beginning With the Rye
shitelnl Incident, and De-
MED In Toto.

Washington, January 9O.-The Japanese
government has made verbal denial to the
State Department here, and 1t is under
stood to other governments of the Rus
sian charges of violation of Chinese neu-
trality during the present war. The Jap
anese statement, just made public. is
couched in strong language.
1t says that while 1t is not Japan's
duty to defend China in this case, yet
so far as the good faith and loyalty of
Japan are called in question, the govern
mont OF that country feels bound to repel
the charges These are taken up seriatum,
beginning at the Ryeshitelni incident
which the verbal note declares was moth
ing more than the adoption by Japan Of
just and inevitable measures of self-de-
tense, made necessary by Russia's vio-
lation of Chinese neutrality The charges
that Chinese brigands were commanded
by Japanese officers, and enrolled in
their army. and that Japanese military in
structors were with Chinese soldiers on
the border, is declared to be without any
foundation whatever. and Russia is chal-
lenged to produce any evidence in sup
port of this charge.
Russia Used the Islands.
1t is denied that Japan has used the
Miatoao islands as a naval base, but it
is declared that Russia has so used the
Islands and that a Japanese merchantmen
was sunk in the island roadstead in
March by a Russian man-of-war. The
Japanese admit they have procured war
supplies from Che Foo, but insist that
these came through private parties and
that the transactions were legitimate
while Russia, 1t is alleged has fitted out
and loaded a ship in Chinese waters in
fragrant violation of the Chinese neutral
ity.
1t Is denied that pig iron was supplied
to the Japanese army by the Chinese
government shops at Hanyang, and this
Is also said to have been a legitimate
transaction between indv lduals Respect
ing the charges that China Is seriously
preparing to engage in the war, the note
says:
1T is difficult to imagine how 1t would
be possible to frame charges more mis-
chievous or more remote from actual
facts than these. That the Chinese are
making preparations Of this kind, is en-
| tirely destitute of truth. and there is no
anti-foreign movement in China. From
the beginning, Japan has urged China to
maintain neutrality, and protect foreign
ers. 1t is abundantly clear that the mo-
tive of the Russian government in formu-
| lating baseless accusations was to relieve
| themselves of an engagement, the terms
| of which, with the progress of the war,
no longer Injured mainly to their advant-
age"
Supported BY Determined Statement.
The note is supported by a determined
statement under eight heads intended to
show wherein Russia on her part has
violated Chinese neutrality. Briefly
stated, these incidents are connected with
the alleged appropriation by Russia of
Manchurian military stores and provis-
ions; the chartering of the German mer-
chant steamer, Foo Ping, at Che Foo to
carry Russian arms; the dispatch of three
million, six hundred thousand small arm
cartridges from Kalgan to Port Arthur;
communication between Port Arthur and
Che Foo; the unwarrantable delay Of the
Russian gunboat Mandjur in disarming
at Shanghai; the flight of Russian Of
ficers and soldiers from the Ryeshitelni,
when they were supposed to be informed;
the aid extended at Che Foo to Russian
soldiers fleeing from Port Arthur, and
the maintenance of large Russian force
in the region west of Liaoho in violation
of the agreement to limit the theatre of
| war.