The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-17
NEUTRALITY
 fOF CHINESE P,kin Government Urged
 to Enforce It. SECRETARY HAYS ACTION D0eSNOt ASSumethe CeleStialS
 Have Erred. - At Same Time, Attention Is Called to Ad,antase to be Derived by Strict Adherence to Agreement.

washington, Jan. 16.--China's attcn- tion again has been indirectly invited by the American government to the necessity for a faithful maintenance for her neutrality, not only her per- sonal interest but in the interest of the worlds peace.
 Secretary Hay on the receipt of the full text of Count Lamdorffs note ex- pressing Russia's belief that China's neutrality has been repeatedly vio- lated, today prepared instructions for the American charge at Pekin, direct ing him to make inquiry of the Chi nese government regarding the situa- ton.
 It is specially declared that this ac- tiop cannot in any way be construed as indicating that this government as- sumes responsibility for the charges made by Russia. Indeed, this govern ment has received no information through its legation at Pekin nor | through the various American consult ates in China that the Chinese are vio- lating the rules of neutrals.
 Nevertheless, in view of Russias ex- l pected anxiety over the situation in China, which her investigation dis closes. the American government is ready to do what it can to save China ! and the other neutral powers from the far-reaching complications which 1t Is feared would follow an extension to Chinese territory of the zone of hos tilities.
 This is the second time that Secre- tary Hay, in a friendly spirit, has urged on China the advantage which a strict observance of neutrality holds, not only for her people but for the remainder of the world. l All Interest in China. China is the one subjectiof conver- sation in diplomatic circles. At the State Department today Sir Mortimer Durand, the British Ambassador, was among the earliest callers. He had a long conversation with Mir. Loomis, who is acting secretary of State while Mfr. Hay Is confined to his house by cold. Shortly after Sir Mortimer left, Baron Busche, the German Charge dAffairs, saw Mir Loom!T for few minutes on the same subject As the representative of the government from which emanetd the suggestion | that America invite the powers con- currently to urge on Russia and Japan ! the respecting of Chinese neutrality, | his visit was naturally of significance. Later in the day came the Japanese l Minister He had, however, no com municatiOn from his government, al- though he was enabled to say very positively that Japan desires sincerely | Chinas neutrality.
 l Sir chentung hangcheng. the Chi nesa Minister, called on Secretary Hay at his home. Although suffering from cold. the Secretary is keeping in close touch with the situation. and 1t | can be stated that this Government by | no means has abandoned the hope that China may yet be saved from an ex- tension of hcstilities across the borders of Manchurla.
 The Iong-heralded Russian note reached Secretary Hay from the Rus sian embassy today. It was in French, and it's substance was given the Secre- 1 tary several days ago by Count Cassini. the Russian Ambassador, during call at the State Department. Tho text of the Russian note is regarded as con 1 fdential. and for this reason the State Department has not made it public. The Associated Press has obtained an | approved synopsis of the note, which. without purporting to give the lam guage, presents in accurate sequence the subjects to which Count Lamsdorff ] refers.
 Substance of Note.
 | The Russian Ambassadors to the sav- eral powers are invited by Count Lams- dorff in the circular note to call the at | tention of the Minister of Foreign Af-
 fairs of the Governments to which they are respectively accredited, of the fact
 that at the beginning of the war the
 Imperial Government, for huma nitarian
 reasons. agreed to the proposal of the Washington Cabinet regarding the To- calization of military operations and the recognition of the neutrality of Chl- nesc territory and announced it's de- cision to the powers last February. That Russia, however. distinctly specified as a condition precedent to | her agreement, a strict observance on
 the part of China of the duties of a
 neutral and also loyal attitude on the part of Japan towards this spirit, the purpose and intent of the Washington
 Cabinets proposal as expressed in the
 circular note which Secretary Hay ad-
 dressed to the powers last February. ! That the experience of the past elev-
 on months has made it evident that China either is unable or docs not wish to adhere to her given pledges that
 without going further back than the Ryeshltelni incident at Chefoo, it
 would be easy to state many eases In ! which the rules of neutrality have been
 violated by China to the advantage i ana prOuL or Japan. nat IL naS been
 established many times that certain
 bodies of Chinese mounted bandits
 have operated on neutral territory and
 that they have been commanded by
 Japanese officers.
 EnrOIlment of Bandits. ! That whole attachments of these
 bandits have been enrolled in the Jap
 anese army and are receiving a regu-
 lar remuneration from the government
 at Tokio in payment for their services. and that Japanese instructors have been admitted all along to the Chinese
 military service and accompany the Chinese troops stationed on the north
 ern border of the province of Chilli. l professedly for the purpose of main taining neutrality. That 1t has been
 ascertained after careful inquiry that
 since the outbreak of the war the
 Japanese have used the islands of Mia otao as a base for their naval opera
 tions.
 That many importations have been made by the Japanese into DaIny
 without interference of contraband
 shipped from Chefoo and other ports