Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-04-02
SUPPORTS CHINA
AMERICAN CONSUL At HARDIN
PROTESTS AGAINST RUSSIAN
JURISDICTION IN MANcHuRIA.
PRESERVING the OPEN DOOR
Russia and Japan Attempt to Exercise
Complies Control Over Railroad
Zone to Detrlment Of All
Other Nations.


st. Petersburg, Apr. 1.-The Rus
sian government, is disturbed by the
attitude assumed by Fred d. Fisher,
the American consul at Hardin, In the
matter Of recognizing the Jurisdiction
Of Russia in Manchuria. Mr.. Fisher
insists that Chinese sovereignty In
Manchuria is supreme and furthermore
he has supported the protests OF China
against the establishment by Russia
OF municipalities in the railroad zone
at Hardin and Chailar independent of
the Chinese government and his at
tltude in this Russo-Chinese difficulty
has prompted Russia to seek an ex-
PLANTATION of his course both at Ameri-
can embassy here and in Washington.
Mr.. Fisher Is accredited to China, and
since his arrival in Hardin In January,
1907, he has consistently refused to
recognize or admit that he should have
anything to do with the Russian ad-
ministration of the territory. He has
been firm in his assumption that he
was accredited solely to China and he
has declined to act on the suggestion
conveyed to him by an official OF the
Russian railroad administration that
he should secure the permission Of
General Horvath, the Russian COVER
nor OF Hardin, before opening his con-
sulate or raising the American flag
over the building.
Under the treaty Of 1895 Russia
claims exclusive control over the rail.
road zone in Manchuria, as well as the
right to organize independent, self
governing municipalities. The Taotai
Of Hardin protested against this to
the Russian governor and to the con-
suls OF the United States and Japan.
The Japanese, who are now co-operat-
ing In the friendliest manner with the
Russians In Manchuria, rejected this
protest, but Mr.. Fisher supported 1t.
Washington, Apr. lit Is admitted
at the state department that the status
of the American consul at Hardin has
been made the subject Of representa-
lions to Washington by the Russian
government but while negotiations are
pending the officials are loath to dis
cuss 1t. The important fact is devel-
oped, however, that the American con-
sui, Mr.. Fisher, Is not acting on his
own initiative in refusing to seek the
permission of Russia to exercise his
consular functions. On the contrary 1t Is
understood that he is simply executing
a carefully considered plan Of the state
department to bring about through
proper means q recognition not only
by Russia, but by other nations inter-
ested in Manchuria, Of the integrity
of Chinese possessions. 1t was long
ago perceived that to admit the right
Of political control Of either Russia or
Japan over the so-called railroad zone"
in Manchuria, including as they do the
principal commercial depots, and cap
able as they are Of indefinite expansion
Of boundaries at the whim Of leasehold-
ers would soon completely defeat John
Hays dream Of "the open door" In
Manchurla.
Therefore a quite definite policy has
been adopted by the state department,
the very foundation Of which was the
annlication of American cOnsulars In