Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-12
HOLD ON MANCHUR|A
Treaty Recently Signed by
China and Japan.
A VERY SIGNIFICANT FACT
Display of Independence by the
Former.
LATTER GAINED A GREAT DEAL
Practical Lease of the Locating
Observation-Disclosures Accounts Of
the Shanghai Outbreak.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

written Tor The Star and the chicago Record
Herald.
The mails bring detailed accounts of
the treaty signed on the ed of December
between China and Japan. concerning the
future government of Manchuria- The
treaty was the result of six weeks nego-
tiation between Count Komura, who was
the Japanese peace commissioner at
Portsmouth, and Mr. Hayashi represent
ing Japan, and Na-tung, chief of the for
eign office. and Viceroy Yuan Shih-kai of
Tiea-tsin. representing the Chinese. While
the results are satisfactory to Japan and
to the United States, SO far as our IN
terests go. the negotiations were especial
~ significant. because they disclosed de-
gree OF independence, firmness and deter
mination which has never been shown be-
fore by the Chinese diplomatista This
newly-developed spirit is in line with other
demonstrations throughout the length and
breadth Of China, and 1t Is evident that
the awakening of the ancient empire Is
genuine and includes the government as
we'll as the people. Never before has China
had the courage to refuse propositions
made by a foreign power: her govern
| ment has usually assented and then tried
to wriggle out of the obligation, but this
time Yuan Shih-kai and his colleagues de-
MED promptly and in most positive terms
several of the demands made by Japan
anu SUO%eu d spirit traL ID entl1efy new
to Chinese diplomacy.
For example. the Japanese calmly sug-
gested that China ought to reimburse her
for part of the cost of the war because
1t was fought for the protection of her
integrity and to preserve her from the
aggressiveness of Russia. 1t proposed
that China assume the foreign debt in
CURED by Japan for military purposes
since the LIST of February, 1904. Hitherto
China has always been glad to get out
of scrape by paying indemnity and the
foreign powers have usually put their de-
mands on a money basis. but this time
even discuss the proposal. much to the
establishment of Count Komura and his
colleagues.
Occupation of Manchuria.
The Japanese also made propositions
concerning the occupation of Manchuria
which, If accepted would have been prac-
teal annexation Notwithstanding their
Japanese leanings. both Na-tung and Yuan
Shih-kad met these proposals with resolute
firmness and for several days there was
a stubborn resistance which would have
been maintained to the end and defeated
the negotiations II the Japanese commits
sioners had not yielded 1t is learned
from private sources In Pekfng that the
Chinese intimated that they would seek
protection from the powers and even from
Russia If Japan insisted upon the
ditions originally proposed. Count ko-
mura had admitted that he was very much
astonished at the firmness displayed by
he left Picking expressed his admiration
of the resolute and vigorous manner in
which they had defended their contentious.
Lease of Liaotung Peninsula
Although the Japanese did not obtain
all that they asked they secured a great
deal. including a practical lease of the
Liaotung peninsula for thirty years with
the right to fortify Port Arthur They
have the railway from Hardin to Port
Arthur and Dalny and the right to con-
Struct another from An-tung to Mulzden;
also road from Chang-chung which Is
just below Hardin. to Seoul. Korea All
of these roads may be protected by guards
from the japanese army so far and as
long as Is thought to be necessary. Rail
ways from Mukden to Hsn-min-tun and
from Chang-chung to Ktrin will be built
by Chinese capital but wiil connect with
the Japanese roads. Other railways may
be constructed with either Chinese or jap
anese capital by mutual consent. and all
the rivers in Manchurta are to be open
to navigation by the ships Of both nations
equal terms.
The road from Hardin to Port Arthur
and Dalny was constructed by Russia as
a branch of the great Siberian trunk une
and was coded to Japan by the Russians
as one of the terms of peace. All these
railroads are to be made uniform in grade
anu are 10 DO we'll equipped Tor freight
traffic In order to promote the develop
ment of the country. Sixteen new towns
are to be opened to trade by foreigners
and free to all. They are the following:
Hardin. Chang-chung. Kirfn, Chang-tu
kat-Yu-an. Hsin-mtn-tun. Hsin- king Lao
yang, Haf-chang, Fa-ku-min, Hulan, Pc
tova, San-an. Teh-ling, Huaiieh. Tsft-st-
har.
These include practically all of the towns
OF Manchuria. and under the terms of the
treaty they will be brought within the
reach Of merchants Of all nations. while
the transportation facilities for shipping
freight will be ample. 1t Is also agreed
that there shall be line of wagon roads
opened into Korea. so as to promote the
overland trade with that country and the
timber resources the Manchuriau side
OF the Yalu river. which was one of the
objects most coveted by the Russians, are
to be developed Jointly by Chinese and
Japa nese capital.
Thus. by this treaty. Japan has under
taken, with the consent of China, to de-
velop the material resources and the COM
merce of Manchurfa. but It Is free to all
the world. Foreigners of every nationality
have equal rights in trade. although con-
cessions are limited TO the subjects of those
two nations. Therefore neither the United
States nor the European powers have any
thing to complain of.
Outbreak In Shanghai.