New-York tribune., 1908-04-06
RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA
TIEHS OF B4RON ROSEN.
Ambassador ErpLains Empires 4c-
ton an Far East.

washington. April Baron Rosen. the Rus
sisn Ambassador. when asked to-day for an ex
plicit statement regarding Russia's attitude in
Nsnchuris, said that many statements recently
printed regarding the situation at Harbin were
misleading. In a general explanation covering
some of the essential features of the situation
the ambassador said:
Il have noted With regret certain comments
relating thereto in some OF the daily papers
comments which. I think. are manifestly based
on incomplete information or on a misconcep-
tiou OF actual conditions existing in that re-
mote part OF the world.
IN the first place the question OF Chinese
sovereignty in Manciuria is in no way involved
in the steps taken by the railroad authorities
toward the organization OF q municipal admin
istrstion in the Russian settlements at Harbin
and Chailar- These settlements have sprung
NJ within recent years around the central sta
lions machine shops and other establishments
OF the railroad company at these points on the
strip of land bordering on the tracks whi-l had
been leased 10 the company in 1895 for a term
OF wears by the Chinese government. the lease
containing special proviso conceding to the com
pany the absolute and exclusive right of admin
istration OF the lands leased. Such stipulation
is in itself by no means abnormal, considering
that under existing treaties foreigners in China
and foreign settlements in the so-caIled open
ports enjoy the privilege OF extra territorialty.
and are, therefore. not subject TO Chinese juris-
diction or administration Nor could this stip-
ulation. freely conceded by the Chinese gov
ernment. be considered as constituting an in
fringement OF Chinese sovereignty in Man
churia.
What the plan advised by the railroad au-
thorities for the organization of municipal ad-
illustrations al Harbin and Chailar consisted
in and what particular features OF this plan
have given rise to protests I am unable TO say,
I have Information whatever on the sub
tect- Il stands 10 reason. however, that these
settlements. which have nestled around the sta
tions and establishments Of the railroad and.
particularly in the case OF Harbin have quite d
large population. in absolute need OF some
kind Of regularly constituted municipal admins
trstion. and the plan devised by the railroad au-
thorities was obviously intended 10 supply this
need and thereby 70 benefit the whole COM
runity. including the Chinese and the few for
eigners who have settled the lands leased TO
the company. ANY disagreement in regard IN
this plan would appear 10 be OF no more than
local Importance. and 10 be capable Of friendly
adjustment without raising any interna tionaI
question In short nothing could be further re-
moved from the aims of R7lssia's policy in the
Far East than any desire whatsoever Of ques-
toning. let alone impairing. the sovereign rights
q china in ManChura, her sole aim being the
maintenance Of the status quo : well as of her
rights Under existing treaties and the cultivation
r. The most friendly relations with China no less
than with japan
Incidentally. I would say that I have noticed
published statement inferentially implying that
the American Consul Al Harbin had been required
70 ger an eXequatur from the Russian authori-
ties This Information can only be based on
sos-- Misunderstanding. do not see how any
eloh thing could have happened. Moreover. as
natter Of fact, Russia maintains herself
consul general al Harbin. which would be a
manifest absurdity If she made any such con-
teTri0n as implied in the statement above re
fe-red to