New-York tribune., 1905-01-31
JAPAN ANSW Frs RUSSIA.
TioIation of China's Neutrality De
nied and Counter Charges Made.

Washington. Jan 3O.-The Japanese govern
ment has made verbal denial to the State De-
partment here. and. it is understood. TO other
governments, OF the Russian charges OF Vlola-
ton of Chinese neutrality in the present ws~
The Japanese statement, just made public, ls
in strong language 1t says that. while 1t Is
not Japan's duty to defend China In this case
yet. so far the good faith and loyalty OF
Japan are called I'm question, the government
OF that country feels bound to repel tne
charges. These are taken up seriatim. begin
ming with the Ryeshitelni incident, which the
verbal note declares was nothing more than the
adoption by Japan of just and inevitable meas
ures Of self-defence made necessary by Rus
sa's violation of Chinese neutrality. The
charges that Chinese brigands were commanded
by japanese officers and enrolled in their army
and that Japanese military instructors were
with the Chinese soldiers on the border are oe-
clared to be without any foundation whatever
and Russia is challenged to produce any evidence
In support of the charges. 1t is denied that japan
has used the Miaotao Islands as naval base
but it is declared that Russia has so used the
islands, and that Japanese merchantmen was
sunk In the island waters last March by Rus
sian man~of-war. The Japanese admit they
have procured war supplies from Che-Foo, but
insist that these came through private persons
and that the transactions were legitimate
while Russia, it is alleged has fitted out and
loaded a ship in Chinese waters, in fragrant Vlo-
Iation of Chinese neutrality.
It is denied that pig iron was supplied to the
Japanese army by the Chinese government shops
at Hanyang. and this is also said TO have been
a legitimate transaction between individuals
Respecting the charge that China is seriously
preparing to engage in the war, the note says:
1t is difficult to ina sine how it would be pos
sible to frame charges more m1SchleVouS OF
more remote from actual facts than these. That
the Chinese making preparations OF thls
kind is entirely destitute of truth. and there Is
no anti-foreign movement In China From tie
beginning Japan has urged China to maintain
neutrality and protect foreigners. 1t IS
abundantly clear that the motive of the Rus
sian government in formulating baSeleSS accuSa-
tions was to relieve themselves of an engage
ment. the terms of which with the progress or
the war. no longer Injured mainly to their ad-
vantage.
The note is supported by a detailed statement
under eight heads Intended to show wherein
Russia has violated Chinese neutrality. Briefly
stated these incidents are connected with the
alleged appropriation by Russia of Manchurian
military stores and provisions. the charter of the
German merchant steamer Foo Ping. at Che-Foo
to carry Russian arms; the dispatch of 100000
small cartridges from Kalgan to Port Ar
thur; the establishment Of wireless telegraph COM
munication between Port Arthur and Che Foo;
the unwarrantable delay of the Russian gun
boat Manjour in disarmjng at Shanghai; the
flight Of Russian officers and sailors from the
Ryeshiteni when they were supposed to be in
termed; the aid extended at Che-Foo TO Rus
sian soldiers fleeing from Port Arthur. and the
maintenance of a large Russian force in the
region west of Lao-Ho. in violation of the agree
ment TO limit the theatre of war.
Berlin, Jan. 30-The Russian governments re-
ply to Chlna's declarations that she has not in
fringed neutrality permitted Japan to do so
is reassertion Of the former charge. The Rus
sian note. which was communicated to the pow
ers on Saturday. gives specifications of alleged
violations of neutrality. but the tone of the re-
ply is such that it IS inferred that Russia is not
likely to carry the discussion much further 1t
is learned here that Russia found that all the
powers particularly Germany, held views iden-