The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-18
VIII Be Welcome to China.

Washington, January I-The note or Secretary Hay relative to the Russian charge of violation by China of the laws of neutrality which Is to be presented to the Pekin authorities by MT. Coolidge, the secretary of the American legation at Pekn, will, 1t is expected, be rather welcomed by the Chinese government as affording 1t proper opportunity to make formal reply to the Russian charges. There Is nothing In Secretary Hays note in any degre menacing or calculated in any way to touch the pride of the Chi- nese.
 It is further believed that the Chinese government, in anticipation of such action by the Secretary of State, has practically prepared its defense. This will amount to a sweeping denial of the accuracy of the Russian charges upon many points and a declaration that where the Rus sian statements are founded on facts, they do not constitute violations of neutrality as accepted by the powers.
 The Ryeshiteln Incident.
 Touching the Ryeshitelni incident, where Russia complained that the Chi nese admrals and other authorities at Che Foo and Shanghai permitted the neu- trality of the port to be violated by al- lowing Japanese torpedo boat destroyers to enter the harbor and cut out the Rus sian boat, it will be alleged that no facts have been adduced to show that these Chinese authorities had warning of the Japanese, consequently they could not be accused of wilful neglect of the necessary precautions to protect the Russian craft from seizure. question also will be raised as to whether the Russian crew on the Ryeshitelni should themselves have observed neutrality by completely fe- fhar question as to the ability of the Chi nese admiral to have prevented the Japan csc seizure even if so disposed. because of lack of physical force.
 Touching the charge that many Chinese were serving in the Japanese army for pay, 1t Is believed the Chinese govern ment after pointing to the failure of the Russians to find Chinese among the Japa- nese killed in battle will raise the point that even If such Chinese did serve as Japanese soldiers. such fact does not of itself constitute violation of neutrality. neutral nation may be properly re- quired to prevent the organization with in it's territory of hostile expeditions, di- rected against a belligerent. but 1t can not prevent It's citizens individually from casting their lot with either one of the combatants
 The charge in the Russian complaint namely, the employment of Japanese of- ficers to drill Chinese troops in modern tactics, will. 1t fig also thought be de- clared within the rights of any power not violating the rules of neutrality
 Japan Is Preparing Answer.
 The Japanese government has been in- formed of the Russian complaint, and It is stated here that it is preparing com plete and categorical denial of the Rus sian charges. Besides this denial it Is un- derstood the note will make such report comment upon these alleged violations or neutrality by some of the powers in favor of Russia, notably In connection with the extension to the Russian vessels which were being home pursued by me Japa- nese the rights of asylum in neutral ports to d degree never contemplated by the older authorities on international law.
 Secretary Hay has addressed note to fhe Russian ambassador here acknowi- edging the receipt of the Russian com plaint of the violation of the neutrality of China. The Secretary availed himself Of the opportunity to call attention to the Russian government to certain cardinal principles of international law relative to neutrality which seemed to apply to the present case It Is believed he particu- larly directed attention to the formid- able difficulties sure to be encountered by a neutral power near the theatre of war in its efforts to carry out in letter and spirit the obligations of neutrality --~~-~>~~<>~>~~~-~>~~~>~ ~~>~-~>>>>>>>>>>-~>~>~>>>~>-
 (continued on Seventh Pa0e)