The New York herald., 1922-01-22
RUSSO-CHINA SECRET
PACT MADE PUBLIC
Arms Farley Gets Document
Blamed as Cause of
Pekin's Troubles.
In EFFECT IN 1896
Conference Wants to Be
Sure 1t Has Lapsed Be-
fore Acting.
AIDS CLAIM, SAYS NIPPON
pp0yaS Rio.ht tn Position in
AIDS CLAIM, SAYS NIPPON
Proves Right to Position in
Manchuria-War With Rus
sia One of Results.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Rureau.
Washington. ID. C., Jan. FL.
The text of the secret treaty be-
tween China and Russia, negotiated
in 1896. which, presumably, lapsed il
1911, and which is to be presented
to the Conference for the Limitation
of Armament, was made public here
to-day.
This treaty, out OF which has grown
the basis for Japan's claims TO its
present position in Manchuria, is sup
posed to have caused the Russo
Japanese war. 1t is looked upon as
one OF the most important public docu.
ments which will be brought to light
by the agreement to publish al
treaties with and concerning China
It's negotiation furnishes dramatic
episode in history. resulting in wa,
and bloodshed, and provides an out
standing example of the perfldious
developments OF secret diplomacy. The
Chinese ascribe to it most of the ills
from which they are now suffering.
While the Japanese believe this docu-
ment will serve to justify much Of their
past history. the Chinese rely upon il to
bolster up their claims that Japan Is an
intruder in Manchuria. The suggestion
that this secret treaty come before the
conference was made by DR.. Wellington
Koo. Chinese Minister to London. The
document was the work of Ii Hung
Chang and of the late Count Witte of
Russia.
Make Sure 1t Has Lapsed.
The secret treaty is supposed to have
lapsed. but the conference wants to
make sure of 1t through definite Chinese
action. so no future Russian Govern
ment will claim il still valid.
The negotiation of the secret treaty
followed the negotiation of that of Shi-
monoseki, which ended the Sino-Japa-
nese war.
BY the terms OF this treaty Japan
took over the southern portion of the
Liaotung Peninsula, in which Dairen
(Dalny) and Port Arthur are located.
France, Russia and Germany immedi-
ately protested, and their attitude was
so threatening that Japan was COM
PEELED to yield.
Czarist diplomacy Immediately devel-
oped it's plan to move, glacierlike. into
Asia, and promptly occupied the regions
which Japan had been compelled to dis
gorge. 1t was this action which prompted
the Japanese. later. to wage war upon
Russia. resulting in the first military
victory OF an Asiatic Power over first
EuroOaan G0varnmant
Russia's action was undertaken under
the cloak of this secret treaty with
China. her actions indicating clearly.
according to the Japanese, that she
aimed at Corea and the occupation OF
Manchuria.
Text Of the Treaty.
The text of the treaty of alliance
between China and Russia follows:
Article l. Every aggression directed
by Japan. whether against Russian ter
ritory In eastern Asia or against tho
territory OF China or that OF Corea. shall
be regarded as necessarily bringing
about the immediate application of the
present treaty.
I'm this case the two high contracting
parties engage to support each other
reciprocally by all the land and sea
forces Of which they can dispose at
that moment. and to assist each other
as much as possible for the victualling
OF their respective forces.
Article 2. AS soon as the two high
contracting parties shall be engaged in
common action no treaty Of peace with
the adverse party can be concluded by
one of them without the assent OF the
other.
Article 3. During the military opera
.ff Is M. l..
case OF necessity, be open to Russian
part OF the Chinese authorities all the
assistance Of which they may stand in
need.
Article 4. In order 90 facilitate the
access of the Russian land troops to the
menaced points, and to insure their own
means OF subsistence. the Chinese Gov
ernment consents to the construction of
n railway line across the Chinese prov
inces OF the Amour q. e., the Heilung-
kiang) and OF Guirin (Kirin) In the di-
rection of Vladivostok. The junction Of
this railway with the Russian railway
shall not serve as n pretext for any
encroachment on Chinese territory, nor
for any infringement OF the rights OF
sovereignty OF his Majesty. the Emperor
OF China. The construction and exploita-
tion Of this railway shall be accorded
70 the Russo Chinese Bank. and the
clauses Of the contract which shall be
concluded for this purpose shall be duly
discussed between the Chinese Minister
In ST. Petersburg and the Russo Chinese
Bank.
Russia Gets Use OF Railroads.
Article o. II IL understood that In
time OF war. as indicated In Article I.
lton hn 80 &I.z
railway mentioned In Article 4. for the
transporting and provisioning OF her
troops. In time OF peace Russia shall
have the same right for the transit of
her troops and stores. with stoppages,
which shall not be justified by any other
motive than the nceGs OF the transport
service.
Article 6. The present treaty shall
come into force on the day when the
contract stipulated IN Article shall
have been confirmed by his Majesty the
En- perop OF China. II shall from then
have force and value FOR a period of
fteen years. Six months after the ex-
riration OF this period tho two high
contracting parties shall deliberate con-
cSsning the prolongation Of this treaty"
IL Is accepted by the American and
other delegations, IL is understood. that
the text as disclosed is correct. although
there IL doubt concerning whether the
treaty is, in fact inomepative at the
present time.
NJ. A. Gerard. French Minister 70
China. 1898 TO 1897 wrote as follows con-
serning the document:
Although the treaty was intended to
remain secret, I one day had IN my