The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-25
THE CHINESE
 DENY GUILT They Have Not Violated
 Neutrality. RUSSIA NOT so INNOCENT Cars Men Have Been West
 of the Lia0. nesardiag Japanese Emplosme.t sf Bandits, They Learned the Trick from the EnensIes They arc
 Now Flshting. t

WaSnlnBton, Jan. zA--Chfn2s S ana swer to the American Governments communication calling attention to tho Russian charges that tho Chinese were violating neutrality, was delivered to Secretary Hay at his residence today by the Chinese Minister. Sir Chenchunm Liangcheng. It will later be sent fo the President. Until the Chinese an- swer has been read by tho President. its text is withheld, but the Associated Press has obtained an approved svnop- sis of the contents of the note as foi- lows:
 Regarding the charge that Chinese bandits were enlisted in the Japaneso army, the Chinese Government calls attention to the fact that they were erl- listed first by the Russians as frnntfer guards and fought against the Japan~ csc army. If 1t Is true. as alleged, that they are enlisted in the Japanese army, that Is 8 matter for the beIlig~ erents. In the opinion of the Chinese Government. the subjects of a neutral power have n right as private citizens to enlist in 8 foreign army. Thla ia an established fact in the law of na~ tions. for which China cannot be held responsible. Whenever these bandits entered the Chinese neutral zone. every effort was made for thar arrest and punishment. and in most cases they have been arrested
 No Japaaese Onlcern.
 we find no Japanese officers in our northern army at all. We do find In the Government school at Paotfnwpu several Japanese trEnslat0rs All of them. however. had been engaged be- fore the war and after hostilitfes broke out they were required to give their word of honor to have nothing to do with the conflict. These are on tho same footing as Russians and other for- eigners in educational institutions ttirougifnut the empire and in our marl- time customs houses. China farther regards this as a matter of Internat ad- id1nistratIon. of which no other Gov ernment has cause of complaintr
 Regarding the iron ore said to have been furnished the Japanese army, the answer says this ore Is from certain mines owned by Chinese merchants sep- arate from the Government mines at Hananing. The iron sold has not gone through the furnace process. The transaction is entirely between Japan- csc and Chinese merchants and In ful- fillment of a contract made In 1900.
 The Maotao islands are said to hava been used by the Japanese as q base for their navy. The Chinese Govern- ment for the past year has stationed the swift cruiser Haiki to watch this island. No signal of any landing of Japanese has been reported and it is unnecessary to add that no such per- mission has been given by the Chinese Government to Japan.
 Shipments of Contraband.
 Regarding the articles of contraband alleged to have been sent to Dalny. the answer says no ships have left Chefoo with the knowledge of the Chinese Government for Dalny and no clearance papers for that port have been issued by the Chinese custom officials. If ships have run the blockade that is the belligerents' outlook. China Is do- ing all she can to maintain it.
 Regarding the Ryshitelni incident. it is said the seizure was as unexpected by the Chinese as by the Russians. The Chinese Government did everything 1t could against such q seizure The Chinese Government later requested Japan to return the vessel and whiia the incident is not yet closed, China considers that her Government haa done all possible In the matter.
 The Chinese Government considers that the Russian Government has vio- lated neutrality in a number of inci- dents. Bridges have been built by tho Russians west of the Liao River and Russian troops have encamped on tha west side of the river, which is sup- posed to mark the boundary line of th8 neutral zone. In many places in the neutral zone, the Russians have forced the sale of provisions. The Chinese had made many arrests of Russians smuggling ammunition, arms and other contraband articles.
 The captain of the Ryeshitelni, while on his way under military escort. made his escape from the authorities in whose charge he was.
 It is said that, in conclusion. China views charges as baseless to he made by a belligerent. China feels it in- eumbent upon herself to make the truth known. The Chinese Govern- ment did not swerve one iota from het and that the general attf- tude of her people Is peaceful and has been approved so by the powers