Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-10-15
GOVERNMENT NOT
CONCERNED OVER
AMERICAN LINE
Japanese and Russian Pro-
tests Over Railway Enter
prise in China Not Apt to
Be Diplomatic Subject,

J
Washington. oct lf.-Japanes
/ and Russian protests against the lat
est American railway enterprise il
/ China may become a diplomatic sub
( ject eventually but there is no imme
date prospect Of the government be-
coming concerned unless the Ameri
can Interests affected should ask aiC
or contend that their rights as Amer
Jeans are being infrInged
Dispatches from Picking today indi.
Gated that protests were being made
against the location of the proposed
built line through territory
i'm which Russia and japan claim spt.
clal interests by prior concession. In
asmuch as the location Of the Ameri-
can line has not been chosen and the
contract makes provision for re-loca-
tion ln case such q protest should be
encountered. there is possibility that
"a solution may be found between the
parties themselves without the inter-
vcntion Of the state department which,
up TO the present. has not been iden-
ufied in any way with the project.
Not Government Problem.
The government does not feel
called upon to step in at this stage,
because the American International
Corporation secured its concession
from China entirely upon its own ne
gotations and let the contract for the
railroad building 10 the Sents- Carey
company of st. Paul Mimi There
were no guarantees for the loan from
the Chinese government and it is con-
sidered purely private enterprise.
state department officials were look
ing for American Minister Reinsch at
Picking to forward some report.
Americans Secured Concession.
IN 1903. the American banking
group, through Willard b. Straight,
now vice president of the American
International Corporation, secured
from China for the financ-
ing of a railroad through Manchuria,
to be built by British interests. This
followed an attempt initiated by
China after the Russo-apancse WIZ
10 drive a wedge between the two
contcnders and thus strengthen her
threatened authority.
Secretary Knox took the concession
to American Interests as the basis for
his proposal to powers friendly to
the complete commercial neutraliZa-
ton of ManChuria,' for the elmina-
ton Of causes Of international fric-
ton 10y neutrali2ing railroads and Civ
ing all interested powers the right to
in further GeEcloFmGnt
Sir Edward Grey, the British foreign
minister. accepted the plan in prin-
'lplc. but as later events developed,
he was so committed elsewhere that
when Russia and Japan refused to ac-
'cpt it in January 1910, he was COM
PEELED TO stand aside. It was the first
lime England had admitted Japan
ana Russia special interests in Man
'huria
Must Have japanese Consent
Japan and Russia, having thWarted
he naturalization plan, then turned
heir attention. with the active sup
1ort of France and England, to the
original ChinChow-Aigun plan itself
Hhe japanese minister at Picking in
ormed China that the consent Of my
government must first be obtained be |
ore any railroad extension is made |
md called attention to the serious !
less of the trouble" which might en- /
ne, Russia followed with similar |
ote ana later formally protested I
gainst the road on the ground that .
it would reach the actual territory (
4 kussia' ana AFFECT her military /
nd political arrangements. Russia I
greed, however. to tissue a definite 4
later as to the con- 4
itions under which this railway may /.
c built"
Japan finally expressed her oppo- 4
ltOn, insisted on participation If the 1
Dad were built and laid down what Il
'ere considered impossible terms, 4
russia, seconded by France later 4
roposed that the road be transferred Il
, line from Kalgan to UrEa, but Il
y then the American interests had i
ithdrawn and American railroad I
left China for some time.
During the negotiations the RUS i
an minister in a note to the Chinese /
)reign office, March 4, 1910 said
In the twenty-fifth year Of Kuang i
su GS99l the Chinese government i
aclarcd that in constructing all rail Il
dads north from Picking. capital
ould be borrowed from no other Il
luntry than Russia. China denied
nat this agreement had been made
nding but it is assumed here to be
lat under which Russia has based
'r opposition TO the American con
'ssion