May 4, 1908.1
“MYSTERIOUS.”
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA.
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313
No intelligent student of recent history have any doubt as to Russia's intentions policy. No one can believe that Dalay will remain a free port, for instance, any longer than it suits the Russian Government's views to make it so the example of Batoum is sufficient guide sion of the great Northern Power will cease on this subject. No one asu believe that aggrew.
Pendeh when Great Britain weakly permitted at Manchuria any more than itoaned the annexation of that place from Afghanistan in 1885. China will be partitioned by her al- leged protector just as Pernis and Poland have been absorbed, and the only limitation to the forward movement of the aggressor must come earnestly to be hoped that the nations interested from Powers as strong as herself. It is therefore in the maintenanes of the Empire will take im. meliate steps to protect it before it is too late. The schemes which the Russian Government has her control of the Luban railway undertaking and now on foot in other parts of Chinese territory, her recent concession for the line to connect Pek- ing with Signan: all these point to further amibitions aime for the connection of her. Central Asiatic system with futura Russian dominions in Central China. For the past three years her path has been practically ·· unobstructed; even had the British Government had the information nececessary to formulate a counter-scheme, her pre-occupation in 8. Africa would no doubt have prevented its being put in force; at present, however, not only England but the other great commercial nations have apparently realised that a oritical moment has come, and if only they are able to place their rights and intentions clearly before the Russian Government Manchuria may yet be saved for the Empire. It should be clearly understood that, in the first ins ance, the possession of a Chinese joint-owned railway through Manchuria does not entitle the Russian Government to place an unlimited number of troops in the country; their situation and. movements should be clearly limited and defined; the Customs arrangements should be placed forthwith under the sole control of the Chinese authorities, and the civil Government should be unhampered in any way by Russian dictation ? The clauses recently put forward in the U.8, Treaty as to the opening of places in Manchuria to foreign trade should at once be carried into effect, and the Powers should receive definite pledges that no preferential rates will be allowed on any railways in Chinese territory,
large, naked swords, by which one knows at once that they belong to the East Siberian A Chemulpo correspondent of the Shanghai Brigade, or the Railway Protection Guards, Mercury is responsible for the following: recently arrived from Russia, and who look less It seems to me that a diplomatic farce is be- formidable in their new grey and green uni- ing enacted in Seoul. On the 21st March forms than do the rather unclean and untidy there arrived, quite unexpectedly, the German Cossacks. In place of side-arms, every soldier steamer Amoy in ballast. She did not enter carried his bayonet in a small leathern sheath the Customs, but I afterwards found out she on his sword-belt, but more frequently unsheath. brought a distinguished Russian passenger.ed and ready for being fixed. At night time She had been chartered for the express purpose the bayonet is always carried fixed, and of bringing this Prince Duk", or Special also all revolvers are unbuckled ready for Director of the Russo-Chinese Bank on 8 180. Thus equipped, the soldiers have to running visit to the Land of the Mur search the carriages at every stopping-place, ning Calm. Not only as the arrival of examine the axles and wheels, fill up the o:1 this person a mystery, but the person himself chambers, and remove the ice, which forms so was a bigger mystery. No one here has ever quickly on the outside of the carriages. All sebu, known, or heard of him. Immediately the railway officials, engineers, telegraph clerks, he landed he left for Seoul by train. Not even and pointsmen are also equally armed to the a Japanese detective got glimpse of him. I teeth. Workmon, armed with sword and happened to know the commander of the revolver, inspect the brakes and couplings, for steamer he came by, and therefore we had a cup the ability possessed by the brave Cossacks does of tea together the day after his arrival (Sun- not extend to such work; the stationmaster, who day), so I tried to find out who this s ranger dues not bother himself in the least as to the was. But the captain did not know, or, if he timely departure of a train according to the did, he was determined to keep the secret. I time-table, blows his whistle softly once as a tried all possible means to pump him about his sign for the train to depart, and then adjusts mysterious passenger, but got no information the carbine slung across his shoulder, just as from him, and I must say I thought all the though he were about to go a-bunting. more of him for it. I, however, learnt he was a very distinguished personage. The vessel was kept under a full lead of steam, and he might appear at any moment and depart as suddenly as he came. These were the orders given to the cap- tain, and, besides, another cabin was to be got ready to receive another Russian passenger- and this person was none other than Baron Gunsburg. I now became aware there was something in the wind." The next day (Monday the 23rd March in the forenoon she steamed out of harbour for Port Arthur. She had neither entered the Customs nor cleared, nor reported herself to the German Consul. Two days afterwards His Ex Mr. C. Waebør. 1. The three Military Governors of heng- Special Envoy to His Im Majesty the Emperor, king, Kirin and Hehlung kiang, being desirous also left for Port Arthur Baron Gansburg to keep peace and order in their respective pro and Mr. Waeber returned again on the 27thvinces agree that they will assist the Russian March, All this is a mystery, but it is thought authorities in all the matters in connection with that a golden egg has been laid in Seoul railway lines, mining, repairs of roads and other and that we shall hear of it being "hatched military and financial works which are now, or shortly.
which may later be undertaken by the Russians in important districts in these three provinces.
2. În ease of any disturbanc in Manchuria which the Chinese Government troops are not able to suppress and if any third Power inter- feres to upset or destroy the existing status quo in Manchuria, there will be d. nger to both the Chinese subjects and Russiaus residents. In such case, Russia will intimate to the Military Governors in Manchuria any increase of their soldiers, and Russian railway guards will jointly with the forces of the said Military Governors defend the provinces by mutually assisting each other.
A
THE MANCHURIAN RAILWAY.
EOME QUÉIOUS BIDELIGHTS. The Kölnische Zeitung publishing a series of very interesting letters from its Special Cor- respondent, who has been making a "Journey in Witter through Manchuris.' A recent letter gives the following desorption of the military aspect borne by the railway referred to:-
"The railway is nothing more than a mili- tary line for making an attack, and by means of which Russia can move, down its troops to the Yellow Sea and to Peking. In all bold- ness, for nobody dares to oppose it, Rus ia considers that it is no longer worth the trouble of concealing the purely military character of the railway. Only when the powerlessness of Great Britain, whose powerful position in the Far East is being shattered more and more by Russia's advance, and by the rapid growth of Germany's trade, was sufficiently recognised, did Russia let the military aims of the railway appear unconcealed; these aims are so clear and unmistakeable that nobody who gets to know Manchuria from travelling along its Russian railway can doubt any longer as to the ultimate aims of Russia's policy in Eastern Asia.
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"The only life brought into the desert region along the line is afforded by the East Siberian regiments and by the recently-formed 'Railway Protecting Guards. The stopping-places of the Southern Railway are simply strong. fortress-like buildings surrounded by high walls of solid masonry and large yards, in which, in case of need, the railway officials and their relatives could take shelter behind earth-works and embrasures.
Everything points to anticipated struggle and siege to the possibibilty that the land, into which Russia has walked so quietly and quickly will have be sequired and defended perhaps once more by the sword. So soon as the train arrives at one of these defiant-looking stations there appear, besides the officials, either Cossacks in their rough, grey cloaks, with yellow facings and epaulettes, and with their
AN AGREEMENT WITH THREE MANCHU GOVERNORS.
According to the Pei Taing Sin-poa of Tientsin, the Military Governor Tseng Chil of Shengking, the Military Governor, Chang Haun, of Kirin, and the Military Governor Sa Pao, of Heh Inng-kiang, entered into an agreement with the Russian Governor of Kwangtung Province (Liaotung Peninsula) on the 20th of March (Russian calendar) to the following effect:
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3.-Besides the foregoing articles, in case of any trouble Russia will protect the three Mili- litary Governors, their families, persons and property, and will accord them special treat- ment; and whenever peace is restored they will also be properly protected by the Russian Government against their present acts.
4.-All the officials (Chinese) and persons engaged in military duties in the provinces under the control of the above thres Military Governors, shall treat the Russians as friends and shall provide them with residences, provi- sions and other conveniences of living.
5. All officials engaged in administering Manchuria shall place their military defensive positions, powder magazines, armouries and stores, etc., under the protection of the Russian troops.
6-Russia will despatch her agents to Monkden, Kirin and Tsitsihar as advisers to the three Military Governors to confer about the defence of Manchuris and on all questions of the administration and control of three Eastern provinces.
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7-A military commander shall be appointed to control the Manchurian troops so as to sup press any disturbance in that country and defeat any attempt at interference by any third-power, by organising the allied forces of Russia and China [to work together.] '
The Shanghai Mercury translates from the Universal Gazette a long article on the question, from which we quote the following :-
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dated the 24th ult., says:-Being repeatedly A l'eking telegram to the Shunghai Times, ́ questioned by the Chinese Government why his Government committed such a serious breach of faith in regard to the evacuation of Manchuria, the Russian Minister has at last replied to the effect that Russia has made up her mind not to evacuate the sec nd portion of Manchuria or to hand back Newchwang to Chius, unless the latter cau see her way to give Russia a solemn promise not to open any place in Manchuria to international trade and to let Russia retain whatever revenue may be derived from the Imperial Maritime Customs at Newchwang The representatives of Great Britain, Japan and the United States have already warned the Chinese Government against complying with these outrageous demands.
As conditions preo dent to the eraonation of Nowchwang, a Chinese contemporary says, Russia requires China to undertake : (1) That Manchuria will not be opened by treaty: (2) that the Newchwang customs revenue should be given to Russia; and (8) that sanitary matters ia Nowohwang city should be managed by Russians. The same paper again states that Governor Wang Chih-chun of Kwangsi has con- cluded an agreement with the French that the latter are to contribute capital and troops for quelling the Kwangai Rebellion.
Mr. F. E. Taylor having been relieved of the Statistical Secretaryship of the Customs in order that he may devote himself to Jreaty Revision, Mr. F. A. Carl from Chefoo repl him, the whole staff of the Statistical Depe took the opportunity to show their of his conduct of the Department, by him with gnificent silver. an address.
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