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Show WAR CLOUD IN THE FAR EAST. Russia Will Undertake to Expel British Brit-ish Customs Officials From Manchuria. Man-churia. Pekin, Sept. 10. Paul Lessar, the Rusian minister here, has advised the Russian commander in Manchuria that the presenceo f foreigners in Manchuria Manchu-ria during the military occupation is objectionable, and he is directed to expel ex-pel the British imperial customs employes em-ployes who may be sent to Manchuria to resume charge of the postal service. serv-ice. According, to advices received here from Manchuria, the Russians are making no visible preparations to withdraw with-draw from the military occupation of the southeast portion of the province of Shing King, as "was stipulated should be done within six months of the siffnine of the treaty. Russian troops and immigrants are reported to be entering Manchuria in large numbers, num-bers, but none are leaving the country. coun-try. Washington, Sept. 10. While Mr. Laesser's notice of the intention of the Russian government to expel foreigners foreign-ers from Manchuria has been formally formal-ly brought to the attention of the state department, it can be predicted safely that for the present, at least, our government gov-ernment will look upon this matter as one involving Russia, China and England, Eng-land, and as ona in which it is not directly di-rectly concerned. So far as is known here, there are no Americans in that section of China, and if it should appear ap-pear later that there are some American Amer-ican prospectors in that country it is not probable the decree would be enforced en-forced in their case, as, while general in terms, the decree really is aimed at the British and marks a determination determina-tion on the part of Russia to retain the actual control of customs in Manchuria Man-churia In her own hands, while nominally nom-inally recognizing Chinese sovereignty. The British customs employes referred re-ferred to are British by nativity, but are actually in the employ of the Chinese Chi-nese government, and it may be that Russia will insist that the question raised by Mr. Laessar's order concerns only Russia and China. It Is improbable, improb-able, however, that the British government govern-ment will take this view of the matter, mat-ter, and it is fully expected that the British minister at Pekin will call on the Chinese government to retain these British customs officials, despite the Russian order. Russians Go to Pekin. Tien Tsin, Sept. 10. Colonel Baron Kopp, director of Manchurian railroads; rail-roads; General Bolkoff, acting governor, gov-ernor, and other Russian officers of Manchuria, have gone to Pekin in connection with the negotiations for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Manchuria and the restoration of the Shan Hal Kwan railway. |