Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-21
agreed to by the Chinese foreign board


Saturday.
Foreign bankers have telegraphed to
their principals recommending that the
settlement be accepted. Chang Chi Tung,
the grand councillor. is not yet commit
ted to this plan, but all the other Chi
nese officials view the arrangement Ia
vorabfy.
!! A peculiar situation in connection with
the loan has arisen during the past few
days, caused by dispatch sent to the
Chinese foreign board by NJ. korotovitz,
Russian minister to China, Oh instruc-
tons from st. Petersburg.
The dispatch asks China, provided
more money can be used in this or other
loans. to admit Russian capital. pointing
out that as China is borrowing abroad
Russia should be considered on account
of her large interests in the Yangtse-
Kiang region. Foreign bankers mere,
ignoring their own disSenSiOns, attribute
the cause of RuSsias action to the policy
of President Taft.
NJ. Korotovitz assured Henry P. Fletch-
err, American charge daffaires at Picking.
that while Russia wished to participate,
she would make no claim. and had no in
tention of protesting against the present
loan. so the agreement will not be embar-
raised.
Russia Not to Embarrass Loan.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 21.-Russia is
not expected to act energetically in the
matter of the Hankow railway loan The
demand for participation in this loan orig
mated in the application of the Russo
Chinese Bank at Picking, which the Rus
sian government felt bound to support as
a matter of form.
A dispatch received here from Hardin
says the agreement recently concluded be-
tween China and Russia for the admin
istraton of the municipalities along the
Russian railroad area in Manchuria al
ready has resulted in friction.
The Russian and Chinese food mer-
chants in the Hardin bazaars have gone
on strike as protest against the refusal
of the munich ality to reduce taxes and
market fees, and the municipal author
tiles, in retaliation, have opened four meat
shops.
Minister Crane Pleased.
NEW YORK. July 2l.-Information
from Peking promising settlement of
the Hankow railroad loan question favor
ably to the United States is received
with qualification by Charles r. Crane OF
Chicago. recently appointed minister to
China now in New York.
Mr. Crane said this country was par
ticularly anxious to have equal partici-
patton in the Joan, because it represented
the first general public work under the
new policy of the Chinese government
favorable to foreign enterprises and
under the policy of the United States to-
ward the eastern situation as laid down
by President Taft.
! 1.-THE precedent is what We want to
establish he said; after that the task
of this government to maintain its posi-
ton with the European powers in the
east will be less difficult
The proposal under consideration is to
increase the original 27,5O0.0OO required
for the loan by one-third. allowing the
United States to share equally with Eng
land, Germany and France. without cut
ting down the portions originally allotted
to those countries.
Small Hope of Gain.
Mr. Crane took pains to make it plain
that the desire of the United States to
participate in the loan was not due to
hope of financial gain.
Our bankers he said. are patriotic
in the matter. They have no expectation
of any unusual profit. beyond a possible
per cent. But they realize what this
matter means 10 our prestige in the east
and to our future commercial opportuni-
ties
while no such considerations will be
mentioned in distributing the loan. the
allotment we desire would increase the
opportunities of American manufacturers
to share in the contracts for building and
eauipping the new railroad and aid the
merchants of this country IN their conf
petition for Chinese trade.
1.-THE proposed railroad is great enter
prise Its length, ! think, will be 1000
miles, and it will tap one of the richest
parts of the empire. Plans are on foot
for the construction of another road of
equal extent and Importance.