The News & Observer

RUSSIA WEARIES OF JOINT ACTION

Prefers to Play a Lone Hand in China.

HER INTERESTS NOW SAFE

Won't Follow the Irreconcilable Policy of Some Powers.

BELIEVES CHINA IS PLAYING FOR TIME

Wily Orientals, Russia Thinks, Will Gather Their Military Resources During the Rigorous Winter and in the Spring Reopen the War.

(By the Associated Press.)

St. Petersburg, Oct. 16.-The Russian Government permits it to become known that its attitude in China will be increasingly independent of the concert of the powers. Russia it is explained, is disposed to attach less value to joint action since her interests have been fully secured by the successful campaign in Manchuria. Moreover. Russia is not willing to "follow the irreconcilable policy of some of the powers.'

The expectation, the publication adds. is that the Chinese Government is about to utilize all its resources of duplicity to keep the powers occupied with vain negotiations and proposals and the dispatching of notes in order to gain time until the winter, counting on the rigor of the climate to prevent military operations and allow China to gather her military resources for a spring campaign.

WASHINGTON'S COMMENTS.

Washington, Oct. 16.-The cable dispatch from St. Petersburg indicating that Russia's attitude In China will be independent of the concert of the powers, caused no surprise among officials here, who have been looking forward for some time to just such a line of action. It was noted when the aggressive military movement was inaugurated by Germany and the expedition against Pao Ting Fu started that Russia was among the powers which did not join in the movement.

As the bulk of the American troops had withdrawn from China. leaving General Chaffee only a legation guard at Pekin, the Japanese forces participated in a very limited degree, by continuing the defenses of Pekin during the absence of the other allies. The dispatch from St. Petersburg is looked upon as merely another step similar to that taken when Russia withheld from the Pao Ting Fu expedition and other aggressive military moves. Moreover it is regarded as quite in consonance with the pacific tendencies of this Government, which have been directed all along to securing a settlement by diplomatic means, rather than by the sword. The Russian purpose of pursuing independent action has not made itself evident in any official or formal way thus far. either to the State Department or to the Russian Embassy here.

CONGER OBJECTS TO THE METHOD.

Paris. Oct. 16.-A dispatch received by the Havas Agency from Tien Tsin dated October 15th says:

"The British Ambassador. being informed from London of the basis of negotiations. proposed by M. Delcasse, called a meeting of the diplomatic corps in Pekin.

The French propositions were unanimously approved and appreciation was expressed of France's initiative. United States Minister Conger alone raised an objection, not against the propositions but against the method of procedure. Mr. Conger deemed that the French propositions would have to be imposed upon the Chinese during the negotiations. While these propositions are formulated as being the basis of negotiations. different ministers, among others the British and Italian, presented certain demands, especially the replacement of the Tsung Li Yamen by a Minister of Foreign Affairs and the posting for two years of the decrees concerning the punishment of the instigators of the anti-European movement. These demands are approved by all Ministers."