Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-18
REPORT rs DISOREDITED
NOT BELIEVED THAT THE Rus
SLAMS HAVE SEIZED KHAsoAR.
China Expected to Make Answer to the
Charge Of Having Violated
Neutrality.

1t is the expectation here that China will
make answer to the Russian complaint
| that she has violated neutrality directly to
Paul Lassar, the Russian minister to Pc
king. The note Of Secretary Hay informing
the Chinese government Of the Russian
complaint was, 1t Is said, not Of a nature
to require an answer from China directly
to the State Department, though it is prob
able that copy of the communication
which will be made by China to Russia will
be supplied to the United States govern
ment for its information.
None Of the powers has been asked to CO.
operate with the United States in repre-
sensations to Russia deprecating viola
ton of Chinese neutrality by way Of re-
taliation for the matters complained OF in
the Russian note, but 1t would not surprise
the government here If some of the powers
did act on similar lines in the interest Of
the worlds peace.
London Report Disbelieved.
The London report that the Russians have
seized Khasgar in Turkestan Is believed
here to be an erroneous Interpretation OF a
Russian movement to strengthen the con-
siderable guard which Russia has of late
years maintained at it's consulate in Khas-
gar. The authorities here cannot bring
themselves to believe that Russia would &C
tually undertake to sieze Turkestan, as
such action would be almost certain to meet
with active opposition from Great Britain.
Turkestan Is now divided into three spheres
Of influence-Russian, Chinese and British
and the balance of power there is being
jealousy watched. While the English are
particularly interested in preventing any
action by Russia In that quarter that might
be regarded as threatening India. the other
~,zl,, - TvzIA
would. it is said here. have a distinct sec
Ondary interest in the matter, as Russian
annexation Of Turkestan would be regarded
as breach of the Russian promise to
maintain the integrity Of China during the
present struggle.
Russia Expresses Thanks.
Russia, through Count Cassini, has ex-
pressed her thanks to the United States
government for its action in calling China's
attention to the charges that her neutrality
was being violated. The Russian ambass
dor has received note from Secretary
Hay acknowledging the communication of
Count Lamsdorf and informing the am
bassador that the American government
had called China's attention to the charges
and expressed the fervent hope that China's
neutrality as we'll as her administrative en-
tity would be faithfully preserved. The
secretary further said that the Chinese
minister had assured him that his govern
ment was equally DESTROYS Of remaining
strictly neutral. and was doing her utmost
to prevent violation of her neutrality by
either belligerent.
Count Cassint said last night that Rus
sia's note to the powers was prompted by
the fact that she had absolute proof that
Chinese neutrality was being frequently
violated, and that unless China mended
her ways and maintained, with the as
sistance of the other neutrals as well as
Russia, an attitude of strict neutrality the
imperial government would be forced to
look first to Russia's interest. "It is a re-
Election on sane mans intelligence" the
ambassador added, 'to go into an explana-
tor as to why Russia wishes China's neu-
trality maintained. 1t Is self-evident, and
her energetic communication to the DOW
ers is but another evidence of the faithful
effort she is making in this direction"