Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-18
PEKINC REMAINS SILENT
OVER RUSSIAN THREAT
China, It Is limited, Unable to
Resist Cars Troops
in Iii.

PEkING, February 1S.-The Chinese
foreign board declines to make a state
ment concerning Russias representations
with regard to the Iii province, in Chinese
Turkestan. declaring that reply to NJ
korotovitz, the Russian minister to
China, has not yet been determined upon.
1t is not doubted here, however. that
China's surrender will be complete.
A national spirit has developed in China
in recent years. due to resentment against
all treaties giving privileges to foreigners
and not excepting the Russo-Chinese
treaty Of 1881. According to reports, the
Chinese are ranking under what are con-
sidered unfair clauses in this treaty, and
oftentimes have not abided by it's con-
ditions, declaring that their interpreter
ton of the treaty differed from that taken
by the Russians.
The following instance of this is cited
Russian traders are not permitted in
Taonanfu, and the Russian consul there
was expelled. The Russians argued that
Taonanfu is in Mongolia. in which prov
ince. according to their treaty. they could
trade free. The Chinese replied that the
administrative district of Taonanfu had
been changed. and that the town now
was within the boundaries of China
proper.
formed Minister korotovitz that 1t con-
sidered the treaty of 1881 One-sided. land
intended to denounce it after February %,
that being the termination of decade,
the treaty providing that 1t can be de-
nounced at the end of any ten years.
Thereupon NJ. korotovitz presented to
China a list of claims, including demands
for delimtation of the frontier In two
places where the boundary was disputed
The foreign Office when pressed by the
Russian minister replied that 1t Wouid
discuss these points at a conference over
a new treaty which China would propose.
NJ Korotovitz then pointed out that the
claims he had presented referred 10
breaches in the present treaty, which mad
not yet expired.
Has Warned China Repeatedly
The foreign Office however has not
further communicated with NJ. koroto-
vitz. who has repeatedly warned it that
the ST. Petersburg governments patience
will not last Indefinitely. The Chinese,
not being sufficiently strong to cope either
with arms or automatically with Rus
STA have INDUCED their customary pro-
crastination, no member of the govern
ment desiring to incur responsibility for
a contest. from which there could be but
one issue. Therefore. as the regent is in
sole authority. the reply to Russia will be
his but framed under the advice of the
councillors.
Russia possesses an extensive trade in
all the border provinces, which she does
not desire to submit to discussion, and
the denunciation Of the treaty will open
the whole question to indefinite argu-
ment China. however, enjoys the legal
right to denounce the treaty.
The Russian and Japanese legations
here are regularly in consultation on the
Russo-Chinese situation.
Russia Seeks Battleships.
ST PETERSBURG, February 1S-The
government has asked the duma to vote
$50 Dp.G13 fer the contraction of four
battleships in 1913. The vessels are to e
named Stba$topol, PetropavloNsk, Gangut
and POtaya.