Russia and Manchuria.

Manawatu Herald, 28 April 1903, Page 2

Russia and Manchuria.

Russia, as a condition of evacuating Niuohwang and the two southern provinces of Manchuria, demanded that China should not agree to any new treaty port in Maehuria and not establish any hew foreign Consulates; that the Customs at Niuchwang be payable to the Eusso-Ohineie Bank; and that Russians be exclusively employed in administrative offices. Prince Ching rejected the demands.' Japan is sending three warships to Niuohwang. Reuter’s Pekin correspondent states that Russia informed China that she would takh ho farther step to evacuate Manchuria until China had signed an agreement practically ceding the sovereignty of the province and excluding other nations. THE FEELING IN EUROPE. The “ Standard’s” correspondent at Vienna asserts that a well-known politician, referring to Russia’s demands ou Manchuria, made remarks which gave the- impression that the headlines " Macedonian and Albanian Questions ” will soon disappear from European newspapers. ( In a leading article the Standard says:—-Great Britain can scarcely fail to inform Russia that the absorption of Manchuria cannot become an accomplished fact without raising the whole Chinese question. It is stated at Washington that Russia thrice pledged herself in writing to maintain an open-door policy in Manchuria. It is understood that Britain, America and Japan %ill make joint representations not to Russia, but to China, firmly insisting on her non-

acquiescence in Russia’s conditions, 1 The “ National" Zcitung ” says that • ’ Russia always regarded Manchuria as a Russian sphere of influence and the Powers interested must settle matters with Russia’ themselves.