The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-24
RUSSIANS PROTEST
AMERICANS RELIEF
FOR THEIR ENEMIES
Object to Treatment Given
Austria Germans in Man
churia Neighborhood.

Picking, Jan. 24-Rcssian officials
and the representatives of other En-
tente powers in Hardin, have found
much fault with the way the United
States has administered war relief to
| Germans and Austrians in the por-
tons Of Manchuria close to Hardin.
| Complaints have been made that
Charles K. Moser, the American con-
sui at Hardin, has rendered assistance
to German prisoners who escaped
from Russian prison camps.
The American position in admins
tering relief to Germans and Austrians
in Hardin is that Hardin is Chinese
territory, and consequently United
States officials, as neutrals,, are under
obligation to administer to the wants
of all Germans and Austrians who are
in need, regardless of what part they
have taken in the war.
Mr.. Moser recently paid a visit to
Picking, and discussed the relief work
at Hardin with DR.. Renisch, the Amer
lean minister, and Chinese officials.
The Chinese have never taken a firm
position in their resistance of the cap
ture of Germans and Austrians who
escape from Siberia into Manchuria,
and it is not likely that they will do
so. German prisoners yho have es-
capped into Mongolia and Manchuria
have frequently been recaptured on
Chinese soil by Russian soldiers and
capped prisoners have been even seized
at Mukden and taken from railway
trains
The German and Austrian legations
in Peking have protested against
China's failure to protect the subjects
of these two countries on neural soil,
but without results.
Ever since the opening of Hardin to
foreign trade, its status has been much
disputed by the Russians. At first
they insisted that the treaty port was
located on the river a number of miles
from the present city. This position
was not concurred in by the United
States and other powers. When the
United States consulate was first,
opened at Hardin, some ten years ago,
Representatives of the United States
suffered many indignities, and efforts
nent of Hardin as a treaty port. Rus
STA, however, maintains a consul at
Hardin and by So doing has justified
in measure the action Of other pow
erS.
A constant effort has always been
made by Russia to discourage the idea
that the present city of Hardin is
Chinese, territory. Being such an inn
portant center on the Trans-Siberian
Railway, the Russians have always
endeavored to maintain strong a
hold as possible upon the city. With
out actually declaring their ownership,
they have endeavored to create the
impression that Hardin is Russian
territory.
Until the opening of the present war
they were strenuous1y opposed in this
opsition by other European powers.
However, with the entrance of the En-
tente into the struggle against Ger(
many and her allies, Great Britain
and France have changed their atti-
tude somewhat because of the ques-
lions directly connected with the war
which have arisen in China. Neutrais
who desire to continue in trade in
Manchuria and Mongolia. and who
have no part in the disputes arising
over the war problems have shown no
disposition to acquiesce in the Russian
position.