The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-18
hay MEETS RUSSIA'S MOVE.
,rutNDS POWERS or PROMISE
r0 kIEP CHINA OUT or WAR
.,....,t,fIon as 10 Heal Reason for the
Russian Charges China Makes
sweeping Denlal-Dplomats Feartui
.r.at A crisis Way Be brought on.

sweeping Denial-Dlpomat Fearful
.,lat crisis WAY Be brought On.
u..utyGrcS. Jan i7.-Once more the
.,.s, nations 81 the world are tearing
e-.t- In the peculiar relations when
,.,.ron interest in China has led them 70
o..,,oe toward one another. The serious
- the international situation that may
,r,.. from Russia's charge that the Chinese
C,,erunrnt. both separately and IN COM
,,,,,lap with Japan. has violated its pledge
:, ois,-ve strict neutrality in the Far
Eastsrn conflict cannot be overestimated'
In the opinion of the foremost men here
,ho are concerned in diplomatic AFFAIRS
Nany may regard Russia's complaint az a
,rore incident Of the war, likely to result IN
ra,l..rg moro than words; but those who are
r,,,iii4r with the case realize that 1t has a
c,r.rcuching Significance, involving not
.,I,.,herclntions between Russia and China
,.,, .ho,a of neutral Powers. including the
United states
Eu,,u'- Indictment VI China on many
,ts,gs- while not disclosing the
motive OF the Cars Government, has
furnished the op ortunty for import
ant notion that may set the pot OF
vorId politics boiling briskly Holding
nat ChnH has herself broken the compact
hy which the neutrality of Chinese terri
,ory outside of the restricted zone OF mil
tor, ot,frations was to be res pected by both
IalGgfrert.. Russia might seize Chinese
rort N. "a Use for her feet. or she might
,r,tbdrnw her armies into parts OF CHINA
outside Manchuria. where Japan would
consider u useless or inexpedient 10 follow;
ar shs might use China's alleged wrong
dong a.. a reason for making demands
after No war. whether victorious or not.
on the other hand, Russia may intend her
latest diplomatic move "a an invitation TO
The Powers to end the war through inter-
ventiOn.
Xii these things, while regarded here as
plausihle suggestions, are purely specula-
live but II is noteworthy that the Govern
ment of the United States prefers 20 con
sider the situation as extremely serious
and has already taken steps intended 70
further its previous efforts 70 save the
Chinese Empire from political and terri
torAl disrnemberment and to preserve the
principle of the open door
Secretary Hay, to whose prompt, vigor.
Qua and diplomatic measures. hacNed
bv Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt,
has been due tho fact that China Is to-day
an administrative entity has again shown
that he realized the responsibility placed
upon this Government in everything per-
tanning to the international phase OF the
Chinese question. He has addressed
and the Ministers Of the United States at
the capitals Of nations signatory to the
Pekin settlement Of 1900. directing them
10 request the Governments TO when they
are accredited TO repeat the ASSURANCES
given by those nations last February with
reference to securing from Russia and
japan a promise to respect the neutrality
OF China and to impress upon CHINA the
necessity OF taking no part IN the war
Through these exchanges, informally sug-
hut Vol a tod
by the Urlted States, the signatory nations
virtually pledge themselves TO keep CHINA
from becoming involved in the war and
10 use their best endeavoB 70 resti yin both
Russia und Japan from taking any measures
detrimental to Ctina's Interests as long
a. China OBSERVES a correct attitude
Russia has now coma forward with state
rrents that may he used a a r, olson for hold
Ing that agreement void, and, according TO
the understanding in Washington, Secretary
Hays action il Intended to remove the
cause II any real one exists, and show the
neutral Powers that they must If necessary,
insist that Chinese territorial and political
rights shall be re expected by Russia. u
the neutrals should agree that Russia's
charges against China had not sufficient
basis to furnish a reason for declaring
null and void 1.-THE promise to respect Chinese
neutrality and Russia. in the face OF this,
should proceed to seize Chinese port, or
invade Chinese territory outside the pre-
sCribed zone OF telngercnt operations,
critical condition. involving many nations,
would undoubtedly arise.
The Chinese Government, through its
Minister IN Washington. has entered
sweepng denial TO the Russian charges.
She makes the point that with reference
to the specification that she violated neu-
trality in permitting Japanese vessels TO
enter a Chinese harhor and seize the dis
armed Russian torpedo boat RetShitelny,
the Chinese authorities had no knowledge
that the Japanese vessels would enter the
harbOr and had therefore no reason TO
make preparations 10 protect the Retshl-
teny. To this phase of the Russian charges
the Chinese Government has raised counter
questions. among them whether the Ret
shitelny had not been completely disarmed
as promised, and whether an attempt 10y
tho Chinese Admiral 10 prevent the action
81 the Japanese would have been effective
against the japanese forces.
he Russian charge that Japanese officers
have been employed to drill Chinese troops
Is answered by the assertion that this was
not violation Of neutrality and the truth
Of the further charge that Chinese soldiers
are serving in the Japanese Army Il ques-
toned generally. for the spectre reason
that the Russians have not found any bodies
81 Chinese among the Japanese dead
Even If such were the case, China holds,
there Is nothing TO indicate that the Chinese
Government permitted its subjects 10 en-
list IN the Japanese ranks Only IN the
event that China had permitted Chinese to
be organized in Chinese territory for ser
vice against Russia. condition which 1t
denies, would the Pekin Government be
guilty Of violation Of neutrality.