Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-15
Must Be Consulted Concerning
Manchurian Railways.
SERVES NOTICE ON CHINA
But United States May Protest
Against Interference.
ROAD TAPS TRANssIBERIAN
And That Fact May Explain the
Alleged Uneasiness of Nippon
Government.

American and British capitalists have
about completed arrangements with the
Chinese government to build railroad
from Chinchowfu through Monaghan
territory to Tsitsihar, a distance of
about four hundred miles This fact
seems to have disturbed the equanim-
ity of Japan.
Published reports from Picking indi-
cate that Japan has given China notice
that while it does not intend to OBJ
struct China, 1t will maintain it's right
under the two treaties concluded last
.tonth, to be consulted with respect to
..,,.nchurian railways. and that al
though Japan does not claim the right
to veto, it reserves decision with regard
to subsequent action.
A Notice of Disfavor.
This latter statement is regarded
here closely approaching u notice of
disfavor. Among officials it is regarded
as doubtful fl Japan ill be permitted
to interfere. without objection, to this
or other enterprises in China or Man
churia in which Americans are inter-
eSted
The fact that an objection to the con-
struction Of the proposed Chinchowtu-
Tsitsihar road is limited at by Japan is
regarded here as tending to support
allegations of monopolistic inclinations
on the part of Japan, even to Mon
Solian territory, and many diplomats
! believe that such tendencies will be
unfavorabiy regarded by the other
| powers concerned.
Road 400 Miles Long.
| The proposed road through Mongolia
starts from Chinchowfu and extends in
I northeasterly direction to Tsitsihar
on the Manchurian frontier. with the
expectation of an extension across
Manchura also in a northeasterly di-
which divides Manchuria from Russian
territory. This road will be about 400
miles in length to Tsitsihar and if ex-
tended on to the Amur. it's total length
will approximate 600 miles.
| Tie .act Lat ti.is !u.u will tap The
Russian Iranssiberian road at Tsitsihar
| is thought to explain tie alleged uneasi-
| ness Of Japan, and inasmuch as tie
| Chinese Eastern and South ManchuriaE
| line taps the Siberian road at Harbin the
| proposed line, because OF it's more d.
rect route and shorter distance to the
| south. would be likely to become
strong competitor Of the latter road,
which is nov controlled by Japan.
Then Japan Protests.
About two years ago British contract
ors agreed with the V!ceroy of Manchu-
| ria to build an extension of the North
! China railway from Hsinmintun to Ka-
| kumen, a distance OF about fifty miles.
| the funds to be supplied by British cap
| f;alists. Thereupon the Japane Sc govern
| ,nent entered a protest on the ground
that such an extension would be par
allel lire injuriously affecting the South
| Manchurian railway. This protest was
based on article 3 of tie so-called "se-
cret agreement negotiated In 1903, In
| which it was stated that 1.-The govern
| nent OF China agrees that, with a view
| 10 protecting the South Manchurian rail-
way. not to construct prior to the recov
cry by them Of the said railway and line
in the neighborhood of and parallel TO
| that railway of. any branch line which
might be detrimental to the South Man
| churian railway
Hasn't Proved It Yet.
| Japan, it is asserted. has go far failed
to produce satisfactory proofs that the
contemplated line would compete to the
| injury Of the South Manchurian railway,
ard has likewise failed to indicate wheth-
er any line could be constructed north
j. ward from Hsinmintun which would not
be considered a competing line.
Government officials here regard ia
| pans opposition to the Hsinmintun Faku-
men line as retarding the development by
| China Of portion of her territory and
as in direct violation of article Of the
| treaty of Portsmouth, which states that
Japan and Russia reciprocally engage
not to obstruct any general measures
| common to all countries which China
| may take for the development of COM
merce and industry in Manchuria'
Lao Is Traffic Boundary.
1t is stated that the nearest point on
| the Hsinmintun- Fakumen railroad to the
South Manchunan railway is thirty five
miles distant from the line, and the Lao
river. large waterway, forms the natu-
raj traffic boundary between the two
| systems.
| However, China, owing to Japanese OBJ
| lection. seems to have abandoned the
project OF building this line and has turn
| ed her attention to the construction OF
| the far more important trunk line from
| Ch!chowfu to Tsitsihar which does not
| approach the South Manchurian road at
any point nearer than a hundred miles.