The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-04-04
MUCH INTEREST
OVER IN EUROPE
Fisher Incident at Hardin Gives
Rise to a Number of
Questions.
AFFECTS THE JAPANESE
STATEMENT FROM WASHINGTON
is ANxIOUSLY AWAITED.

"
several other powers are awaiting with
extreme interest the announcement OF
the attitude of the state department at
Washington regarding the Fisher Incl
dent. as this issue affects not only the
administration of Hardin and Chaiiar by
Russia. but the entire question of the
sovereignty OF north China and south
Manchuria. Fred d. Fisher, American
consul at Hardin, has consistently re-
fused TO recognize or admit that he should
have anything to do with the Russian
administration Of the territory, on the
ground that he was accredited solely to
emma; Furthermore, he has supported
the protests of China against the estab-
lishment by Russia of municipalities in
the railroad zone at Hardin and Chin
lar, independent of the Chinese govern
ment, and his attitude in this matter
prompted Russia TO seek an explanation
OF his course at Washington.
Germany Stands In.
II was learned here today that the Ger
man consul at Hardin had sided with Mr..
Fisher against the demands of the Rus
sian authorities. which involved the sign
ing by foreign and Chinese residents OF
paper agreeing to obey the ordinances
Of the Hardin municipal council to pay
taxes. The council Is composed of six
members, three nominated and three
elected TO office. The president of the
council is named by the railroad and in
this manner Russian control is assured
The French consul at Hardin aCquiesced
in the Russian demands.
The Real Reason.
1t is believed here that the real reasons
behind the protest of China and the sun
port given this protest by the American
and German cOnsuls is TO be less in OBJ
iections to a change in the form of the
Russian administration OF Hardin than
ia the apprehension aroused by the ag-
sressiVe and far-reaching policy OF
Japan IN southern Manchuria. This fear
resulted in d determination to change the
anomalous RussO-Japanese position in a
province nOminally Chinese at every op-
portunity. The Russian measures are re-
garded as relatively of local Importance
whereas the pretensiOus of Japan to the
right 10 use the Chinese railroads for mail
carrying purposes without reference
10 the Chinese postal system. as put for
ward in the postal convention that was
proposed TO China early in January. in
vOlye a direct infringement of Chinese
sovereignty.
Russian Postal Rights.
At one time Russia accrued similar
postal rights. but she abandoned them in
October. when she signed a convention
with China TO regulate the Interchange of
mails. This agreement carried the pro-
ViSo that it should lapse al the end of a
cluded like convention with Japan.
Russia also signed a telegraph cOnVen-
ton with China surrendering the Man
churian lines, excepting the railroad tel
egraph. to Chinese authorities. while
Japan Installed her own lines throughout
the south ana even attempted to assert
her control over the deep sea cables laid
by private companies.
1t is asserted here that China is re-
spOnsible for the uniting OF the policies
of Russia and Japan in Manchuria
with Japan, attempted to resume normal
relations with China, she encountered
an attitude Of hostility and distrust and
finally decided that her Manchurian in
terests would be best projected by a
working agreement with Japan.
Railroad Situation.
No further news has been received here
regarding the petition of the Monaghan
princes to the Picking government for the
construction or a railroad between Kali
gan. 10 miles northwest of Picking. and
the trans Bailkalian settlement of Kiak-
tina. which would give the trans-Siberian
railroad direct connection with Picking
The latest advices are TO the effect that
China favored project TO continue the
railroad now being completed between
Peking and Kalgan by an automobile
service from this latter point TO Urga.
At one time advocated by Russia, is now
discouraged in st. Petersburg, as 1t
would open a line of attack against ST.
IBERIA.
The weakness OF Russia in this respect
was made clear during the Russo Japan
csc war.