Show decision of foreign consuls in the shanghai incident powers will act together if intervention is necessary shanghai aug 22 john goodnow the american consul general who Is dean of the consular corps presided at the meeting of the foreign consuls held here today all foreign countries with consulates here were represents ed M the japanese consul and M the russian con sul were in attendance M left a sick bed to attend the meeting he made vigorous protest against the presence of the russian cruiser askold and the destroyer Grozov ol in shanghai harbor and declared that china had tailed in her duties as a neutral power he asserted that the japanese had the right to taka the independent step of entering the harbor and seizing the two vessels the attitude of M was warlike and uncompromising M protested against the entering ot the harbor yesterday by a japanese destroyer and insisted upon the right of the two russian warships in question to remain and repair damages A suggestion made by tho british consul referring the entire matter to was adopted in the the work on the askold Is to cease for 48 hours and no further steps are to be taken by the consuls who will await instructions from their respective governments it was unanimously decided by the consuls that china cannot shirk her responsibility as a neutral state by handing this matter over to the consuls for adjustment neither admiral stirling U S N nor consul goodnow has been instructed ted by washington as to what course to pursue mr goodnow has done his utmost to bring about a peaceful settlement and he has the full confidence of the foreign residents in the matter of protecting the settlements in case tho japanese should attack the aerold and the Grozov ol the british fleet Is expected to reach here tomorrow SATISFIED WITH AMERICAS ACTION st petersburg aug 22 p m the dispatch saying that energetic action had been taken by the american warships at shanghai to protect the neutrality of china has aroused the liveliest satisfaction in official and unofficial circles here the cruiser askold and the destroyer Grozov ol will be disarmed according to the governor of sak falln five government buildings and eleven houses were demolished during the bombardment of Korsakov sk by the japanese shanghai august 22 rear admiral stirling bays that the trip of the american destroyer chauncey from woo sung to shanghai yesterday was to carry dispatches her movements had no connection with the arrival ot the japanese destroyer PREPARE STATEMENT shanghai august 22 the meeting ot the foreign i consuls here today resulted in the preparation of a statement of facts regarding the russian askold and Grozov oi the russian authorities show a disinclination to reconsider their refusal to comply with cainas chinas demand that the two ships leave shanghai or disarm NOT CHARGED WITH responsibility washington august 22 it is asserted positively at the navy department that the american fleet at shanghai 13 not charged with the protection of chinese neutrality by any special instruct eions the officials here are convinced that the japanese have no intention of violating neutrality and furthermore ther more they would not jeopardize the immense valuable foreign interests in shanghai by making the harbor a naval battleground no instructions have bein bent to admiral stirling to inter fere with the action of the japanese vessels WILL ACT TOGETHER london aug 22 the papers here take it for granted that if any intervention is necessary at shanghai tho powers will act together in upholding tho neutrality 0 china equally against both belligerents the westminster gazette bays if the american government will lead the way in this matter it will be doing a service to all tho governments tor it la high teruo the neutral powers come to an understanding about tho meaning and limits of chinese neutrality so as to ba able to act together and arrive at a solution of tho complicated situation tho pall mall gazette considers that the powers should follow at shanghai the correct precedent set by germany at kilo chou and insist on the ienco of the russians to tho order to leave or disarm without delay and thus bottle the whole question of neutral chinese port for the remainder of the war |