Peking, March 23.
The Waichiaopu has issued the following statement to the Chinese papers, regarding the various Russians whom the Chinese police are detaining:
"Beyond a doubt many Russian officers and men were involved in the capture of Urga. This action is a direct assault upon China, against which the Government must necessarily take preventive measures, since it is the prime duty of every Government to preserve peace and order in its territory.
"There is sufficient evidence to show that many Russians are both instigating and directing disturbances in Chinese territory and are actually allying themselves with the enemies of China. That they are associated with the present movement at Urga is a generally recognized fact.
"They are audacious enough to make Peking the centre of their activities, and have established agencies in many cities so as to get into closer touch with the Russians who are directing and instigating the disturbances in Mongolia and along the Chinese Eastern Railway.
"From the clandestine methods adopted and from evidence gathered from documents seized, it is clear that China's interest is much impaired by this action.
"Therefore, the continued detention of those already arrested has become necessary and is but an ordinary method of preserving peace and order, against which no question can be raised in foreign circles.
"During the detention of the persons arrested, they will be well treated and as soon as circumstances admit, they will be re-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.