Powers Acting in Concert: U. S.
Note to China with Regard to Chinese Eastern Railway Peking, Oct. 31.
The American Legation. has despatched a note to the Waichiaopu under to-day's date with reference to the final withdrawal of the Allied troops (Japanese) from the Siberian mainland, stating that in view of this withdrawal the representatives of the United States on the Inter-Allied Committee at Vladivostok and the Technical Board at Harbin have been instructed to proceed in concert with their colleagues on these bodies to the winding up of the affairs of each organization, and the termination to-day of further activity.
The note states that the United States confirms the resolution in respect of the Chinese Eastern Railway adopted by the Nine Powevs at the Washington Conference, also the further resolution on the same subject by the non-Chinese Powers, the first of which refers to the necessity for better protection of the Railway and its staff, more careful selection of personnel"and more economical use of funds to prevent waste of property. The second reserves to the signatories the right to insist on China's responsibility for the performance or non-performance of her obligations towards the foreign stockholders, bondholders and creditors of the Chinese Eastern Railway, which the Powers deem will result from the action of China under the first resolution and the obligations which they deem to be in the nature of a trust resulting from the exercise of power by the Chinese Government ovey the possession of the adminisation of the Chinese Eastern Railway.
"With special reference to the second resolution the United States reserves to itself all rights, indtuding those in respect of advances of money. and material which have been made by it in aid of the Chinese Eastern Railway, directly ey through the medium of the Inter-Allied Committee or the Technical Board.
"The Government of the United States takes this occasion also to re-affirm its concern in the preservation of the Chinese Eastern Railway with a'view to its ultimate return without impairing any existing rights as well as continued interest in the efficient operation of the Railway and its maintenance as a free avenue of commerce open to citizens of all countries without favour or discriminations.
"Having regard to its concern in these matters and to the important contributions it has made to the maintenance and operation of the Railway in the past four} Years, both materially and through the services of the distinguished American engineer, Mr. John F. Stevens, and his assist-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.