The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1909-08-24


Antung- Mukden railroad extending
from Antung on the Yalu river to
Mukden Work was started simulta-
neously at each end of the line by ia ,
panese engineers and constructors who !
have been awaiting the outcome of
the negotiations for several months :
They acted on instructions from To- /
kio.
China's objection is to changing the
existing narrow gauge of the line to
the standard gauge of the connecting
lines in both Korea and Manchuria.
BUILT AS A MILITARY LINE.
The line which is to be reconstructed
was built by Japan in the war with
Russia After the war a treaty was
signed between Japan and China un
der the terms of which Japan was to
be permitted to reconstruct or
transform" the line, use it for
term of fifteen years and then turn
it over to China.
The distance from Antung to Mul-
den is about $50 miles, the country
traversed is rich, but the main advan-
| tage gained from the reconstruction
will be through communication from
! Fusan in southern Korea to Mukden
and thence to the main trans-Siberian
| line and so to st. Petersburg and Lon
don. With an eight-hour sea trip from
Japan to Fusan, the existing line from
Fusan to Antung, the through con-
nection made possible by the new line
to Mukden, the trip from Toxic to
the capitals of Europe would be very
materially shortened. Furthermore,
the line is strategically valuable to
Japan.
1t is to make through traffic posi-
BILE that Japan wants to change the
Eline from the existing narrow to the
standard gauge.
PLANS PREPARED IN DETAIL.
Plans were prepared in detail when
the project was first brought forward.
Japanese and engineers practically
agreed to certain necessary changes in
the bay and Japan is ready to pro-
coed with the work of reconstruction,
but China is interposing difficulties.
Much of the trouble arises from inter-
probation of the wording of the orig
inal agreement, which is in Chinese.
The matter was first taken up with
the viceroy of Mukden, who did not
take kindly to the changes suggested
by Japan. Then negotiations were
opened with the central government
at Picking, which objects to the change
to standard gauge; declares that the
northern terminal must be actually at
the city, as the Japanese desire for
reasons of economy, and insists that
the policing of the line shall be left
entirely in Chinese hands and that all
Japanese troops be withdrawn. This
last proposition has been fatty refus-
ed by Japan Speaking broadly, jap
an insists that the changes she pro-
poses are necessary for the carrying
out of the ideas set forth in the
treaty.
POWERS NOTIFIED BY JAPAN.
Japan yesterday officially notified the
powers of her intention to proceed i'm
mediateIy with the reconstruction anC
improvement of the railroad without
the consent of China, diplomatic ne,
gotiations having failed to overcome
Chinese opposition.
The note outlined the entire course
of negotiations relative to the i'm
provement of the railroad up to tn,
present. 1t declared that Throughout
4 the discussion China has had recours
. to her well known policy of obstruc
= ton and procrastination, has evade
the just and reasonable demands O
|, Japan and raised collateral question
- regarding police authority and othe
matters, thus delaying a settlement.
W China's reply of June "a is mention
~ ed and the note declares that Japan
rights under the treaty of 1905 wer
Or disregarded and the provision of tn
rs treaty wholly nullified thereby.
Id 1t is charged that China raised in
/. material issues and declared in her II
is ply that the work of improvement
E. on the Antung- Mukden railroad mus
NC NOllllllNu " lllC NAlobliiSo blsNNh ga
or that the broadening of the gauge cal
not be permitted"
n The communication declares thj
vo since June "a, when the reply was +
10, ceived, Japan has endeavored to il
duce China to reconsider her decisiC
IL and recede from her untenable pos
ton, but that the Chinese governme
o, has maintained an unyielding and u
compromising attitude.
THE TREATY QUOTED.
The entire history of the negoti
lions relative to this road since L
treaty was signed at Picking in 1905
recapitulated in the note to the po'
w. ers 1t is pointed out that the teri
of that treaty permit Japan to reco
1r struct the road in q manner viii
lss will render it eft for the conveyan
arcio1 and iDdnStr