Russia and China.

Manawatu Herald, 2 May 1903, Page 2

Russia and China.

CLAIMS ON MANCHURIA.

I British residents in China are exasperated at Germany’s attitude in I regard to Manchuria, showing that ■ she is unopposed to its partition, and to her probable .annexation of the northern province of Shantung. Russia demands that no change be made in the administration of Mon-, golia, lest the country improve; also, an extension of the provision for the exclusion of foreigners from the Chinese administration to Mongolia. Russia is building twenty turbine motor gunboats for the protection of the Amur river frontier. General Kouropatkin, Minister for War, has started for the Far East. THE YALU RIVER. Japan intends to demand timbercutting rights on the Yalu river equivalent to those held by Russia. STATEMENT BY LORD LANSDOWNS. Speaking in the House of Lords, in reply to a question by Earl Spencer, Lord Lansdowne, Minister for -Foreign Affairs, said that the position of affairs in Manchuria was engaging the serious attention of the Government. The Minister added that the actual facts of the case were not clear, but be hoped to be able to make a statement at.an early date. TONE OF THE AMERICAN PRESS. ' • ; The provincial. press of America arraigns Russia in reference to affairs in Manchuria on similar lines to the tone adopted by the New York press. STATEMENT BY AN OFFICIAL. • The Russian Minister at Pekin informed a, Japanese newspaper cor res-* pondent that Britain and Japan had no right to interfere in Manchuria. Russia, he added, was weary of her undefined status, and was determined to annex three provinces in Manchuria. AN EXPLANATION.. Reuter’s agency states that Count Lamsdorff, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, assured the Ameri-

can Ambassador to China that it was untrue that Bussia demanded that China should re£uae the requests of other Powers for treaty rights and Consulates in Manchuria.

Bussia, he said, did not intend to exclude other countries from the trading advantages they now enjoyed, or to confer exclusive privileges on Bussians.