The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-25
CHINA'S COUNTER CHARGES.
NON ACCUSES RUSSIA or TTO-
L4TING NEUTRALITY.
says the Cars Troops Are Chartered on
the Neutral side OF thc Lao and That
Arms Have Been Struggled Through
Mongolia Denies own WrongdoinE.

MongOliA--Dcnlcs own Nronsupihs'
WASHINGTON, Jan 2I..-The Chinese re-
ply 10 the charge made by Russia in a circu-
lar note to the Powers concerning alleged
violations of Chinese neutrality has been
communicated to the State Department
through the Chinese here Officials of the
state Department refuse to make the Chi
nese answer public. 1t is known how
ever, that the charges by Russia are denied
and that counter charges are made
Secretary Hay. Immediately after the
arrival Of the Russian note of protest on
Jan. 10. communicated the note to the
American Legation in Pekin with instruc-
tons to lay the matter before the Chinese
Government An answer was not re-
quested.
The Chinese Government, however, was
aroused and at the time informed the State
Department that an answer to Russia 3
charges would be made. Minister Chem
tung LANG -Cheng at that time denied the
charges in toto.
The note which has been laid before the
State Department from China is cate
gorical denial Of the charges being taken
up in detail The note is a long docu-
ment II was shown to President Roose-
welt and discussed at the me citing of the
Cabinet to-day.
China's charges against Russia of vio-
lating the laws Of neutrality include the
building of bridges across tine Lao River
and the quartering of troops in neutral
territory on the west side of the Lao the
smuggling of arms by the old trade route
through Mongolia, which was used before
the Siberian railway was constructed, and
the forcing of Chinese inhabitants In neu-
trail territory to sell provisions to the Russian
troops
At the Chinese Legation it ia asserted
that all of these charges are true and that
the denals as made in China answer con-
clusivey refute the charges made by Russia.
The State Department has also received
an answer to the Russian note from Minister
Conger at Pekin. Though this oommunica-
ton has not been made public, II Is under
stood that on some points the Chinese
Government has made even stronger
charges 10 Conger.
The congestion Of the Siberian Railway
ia presumed to be the cause of the alleged
smuggling of arms through Mongolia on
the old trade route The Chinese Gov
eminent says that it has proof that the
Russians have taken, arms to Manchuria
over this route concealed in merchandise.
The Lao River divides Chinese neutra
territory and the war zone II IL set up
in the Chinese answer that Russian troops
have been quartered on the neutral sido
OF the river and that the Russians have
even gone 40 far as to build bridges across
the river.
At the end Of the note the hope that this
Government will sec that justice ~ MAIN
tanned in China is expressed.
The Russian charges as made IN the CIR
cular note some time ago are taken up in
detail In answer 20 The allegation that
Chinese bandits wore serving with the
Japanese il Is asserted that the Chinese
Government X not responslnle ior the
actions Of its subjects a. individuals, and
it il further stated that at the beginning
Of the war Russian officer, whose name
il given enlisted the aud of the Chinese
bandits. The charge of Russia regarding
the massing of the Chinese troops on the
border Of the war zone Is met by state
ment that international law permits any
Government to take steps TO protect her
own territory.
China explains that a rigid inquiry h "a
been begun in the case of the destroyer
Retshitelny which entered the harbor az
Chefoo and was there captured by the
Japanese.
That the Midao Islands have been used
by the Japanese a. a naval base Is indlg-
nantly denied by the Chinese Government
The Russian note alleged that these islands
were put 10 use by the Japanese feet during
the blockade before Port Arthur.
Russia also charged that there has been
IL violation of Chin csc neutrality in the
commerce which has eXn ed between
Chefoo and Dalny The Chinese deny
that such commerce has existed.
Russia charged also that the Hanyang
iron works a Government institution OF
China had furnished iron to the japanese,
The Chinese answer TO this charge If that
private concerns have shipped IRON ore
ia Japan in accordance with "A contract
made two years ago. Tho charge that
japanese officers are drilling Chinese troops
is also denied The answer says that the
only Japanese employed 10y the Chinese
are those in the schools and
in the customs service.