Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-08


WEDNESDAY, Angus,
large sum Of money. and the douma-
which sooner or later ID likely to invests.
sats the connection OF the imperial house
cars mother also lost large sum through
Bezobrazoff-probably several millions of
dollars Several Of the grand dukes SUI
Japan was one Of the consequences.
The Rise Of Bezobrazoff.
Bezobraxofr. q few years ago. was a re-
tired army officer Of distinguished appear
ance and charming manners. making his
HEADQUARTERS at Tver. but spending most
Of his time in travel. He had been every
where throughout the world, and spent 1899
and 1900 in Korea, Manchuria and China.
Upon his return to st. Petersburg in 1901,
he was introduced at court by his brother.
General Bezobrazoff. commanding one Of
the regiments OF cavalry guards. The en-
peror was very much taken by the stranger.
and the empress dowager Immediately
made him q member Of her retfnue.
About this time Count de Witte, then
minister OF finance. received letter from
Russian nObleman named Sevo1 about
japanese interference with Russian min
ing concessions in Korea and Manchuria.
and japanese were permitted to do any
thing in the mineral regions OF those coun-
tries. and advised De Witte that the Amer
leans should be encouraged to invest their
capital there. because 1t would develop the
territory. attract Immigration, and the
Russians, having taken possession Of Man
churfa. you'd enjoy the benefit OF the bust-
ness and industry thus brought Into the
country. He explained that some very val
liable concessions might be obtained from
the Koreans and the Chinese provided
the government Of Russia would protect
the holders against Japanese Interference.
He advised that an understanding be en-
tered into with the government of the
United States for the purpose of encourag-
ing American enterprise to undertake the
development Of these mines with Russian
partners, the theory being that the Ameri-
cans could get better terms from Japan
and Korea.
Count de witte showed this letter to the
emperor. who, remembering that Bezo-
brazoH had recently been in Manchuria,
sent for him, showing him the communica
ton and asked his opinion and advice.
Several interviews followed on the same
subject. Bezobrazon sustained Sevou's po-
sition, and recommended that his sugges-
lions be carried out. It is believed by
some suspicious people that he wrote the
Sevof letter. The whole imperial family
soon became interested in the Subject, Or
ganized q syndicate and subs. ribbed a
quarter of a million rubles-about $125,0O0
in our money-to pay the expenses of an
expedition to explore the far east for soft
snaps"
Korean Forests Seized.
Bezobrazoff was commander-in-chief: he
had several assistants selected from among
the favorites OF the imperial family in the
army and executive departments, and was
accompanied by a staff of engineers, scien-
lists, artists, writers, etc. The report OF
the expedition was very elaborate. and was
published in book form. with beautiful IL
Illustrations. A company was organized to
operate concessions in Korea and Manchu-
ria, and all the stock was subscribed by the
car. the empress dowager. the grand dukes
and their friends and favorites. The Dow
aver Empress Dagmar was the heaviest
stakeholder, taking 100000 out of the
$40, OO0, 900 in shares. The car put $3.OO0.OO0
into the scheme
After the company was organized and
Bezobrazoff returned to Manchuria the
first thing he did was to purchase con-
cesson granted to a Russian named Matt
nonin by the government OF Korea IN 1891
to cut timber in the forests on the Korean
bank Of the Yalu river, which Is the bound
airy between Korea and the Manchurian
province Of China. This concession had
legally expired by limit OF time the year
previous I'm 1900, hence Matnonin was
willing to sell 1t at a very low price. The
BUYERS. realizing that they had the Rus
sian government behind them. put up bold
bluff and went to work. regardless OF tneir
knowledge that the concession was entirely
illegal In the meantime the Korean gov
eminent had declared the concession for
feited, and had given the same rights 70
other persons, who had already put up their
sawmills and were cutting the timber when
forest, The latter seized their sawmills and
RATS and drove the legitimate concession
aires away. killing and wounding several
After getting his outht estaphsneo ana
nhrQy
Picking to obtain similar concession TO
cut the timber on the Chinese side OF the
river This was refused because the Tor
ests had always been pubic ana from PM 'i ax
ercised the right to cut as much as ne
needed for his own use. No one was al
lowed to cut it for commercial purposes.
Invasion Of Manchurian Forests.
Notwithstanding these facts, and the re-
lection of his application for conces-
sion. Bezobrazoff invaded the Chinese for
ests, put up saw mills, built towns and in
vested large amounts Of money. The Chi
nese taotai, Fen Cheng Tscheng, interfered
and ordered the invaders to leave the place.
Bezobrazon was not there at the time.
but Colonel Madricon. MS chief assistant
in charge of syndicate matters of the Chi
nese side. beat the taotai brutality and
drove him out of the forest The Chinese
authorities at Mukden and the Chinese am
0aSSaQOf At SC. FctcTSDUTB, pIOlcSlco III
vain, and the Russian ministers at Picking
and Seoul. knowing that the imperial fam
lily were the chief stockholders In the syndi-
cate, refused to NEEDLE with the matter.
1t became necessary to have somebody
with authority to speak and act for the
Russian government. Alexieff, who had
displayed energy and tact during the Boxer
troubles was selected. and created viceroy
of Manchuria in 1908. with salary of
$50, coo a year in addition to his naval pay.
Alexieff proved to be a proper sort Of per-
son to act as protector to the imperial in
vaders, but overreached himself and the
controversy came to a crisis when a Jap
anese company which had a contract to
build palace for the Emperor Of Korea
came I'D to the Yalu forests to cut the
necessary timber Bezobrazon and his men
seized their RATS and machinery and drove
them away.
Bezobrazoff Driven Away.
The Japanese government sent troops by
land and torpedo boats up the river. There
was fight and several people were killed
on both sides. Bezobrazoff was driven out
Of the Yalu valley. and that was really
90 khA