The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-12-13
THE CLOUD IN TIE FAR EIsr
What Treaty Between Russia and Oh in May Firing About.
 From VnrDer'S WoeklV1


 From Hurper's Woekly,l
 The recent rumor from Hong-<ong to the London Times that Russia had concluded treaty with China by vir- | tue of which the Chinese port of Port Arthur should become substantially Russian naval station, and the Rus slans should be permitted to build, and of course control, branch of their trans-Siberlan railway through Chl- l nese territory down to that point, | found wide belief, for the very simple reason that Russia, when she so cum ningly labored to bring China under her ruling influence, must, logically, have had in view the greatest advan tages she could derive from such q stroke of policy, and that the com mand of Port Arthur as a terminus of | her great transcontinental railway, with the power over China incidental to that arrangement, was just the kind of thing she would like to have, The conclusion was therefore natural that she would covet it, and that the rumor of a bold attempt on her part to obtain it had many clements of probability in | it's favor. That rumor is indeed con tradicted, but something similar is like | ly to happen as soon as Russia dares. l Neither is the opinion expressed in the English press that the rumored arrange ment would practically make China 2 mere province of the Russian empire much exaggerated. Russia would, indeed | in occupying so strong a position, seek completely to overawe the Chinese gov- ernment and people to the exclusion of all other influences, and to monopolize 1 for her own benefit all the commercial as we'll as military advantages accru- ing to the dominant power.
 The only consideration which would | deter Russia from venturing upon so undisguised a stroke of aggrandize- ment would be the uncertainty as to what the other great powers of the | world might do to thwart her. This IS a question of diplomatic combinations. | war than permit a consummation so dangerous to her interests in the east, 1 that she would have the aid of Japan, now an important factor in the affairs of the world, and that the British and the Japanese war fleets would be far more than a match for the Russian navy in those waters, may be looked upon as certain. On the other hand Russia no doubt would count upon France as a certain ally, and the par 1 tlcipation of France in the war would create for Great Britain an exceedingly hazardous diversion. To keep France in check Germany would be looked to, and the prospective attitude of Gerrna- ny is doubtful. It is the traditional policy of the Prussian government to cultivate amicable relations with Rus sia, and it is we'll known that the pres ent Emperor of Germany in the far east, which are very ample of his pre- 1 decessors. But although the kingdom of Prussia is the preponderant state in the German confederation, it does not follow that Prussian traditions will all ways absolutely control the foreign pol icy of the German empire. The com mercial interests of Germany in the far east. which are very great, and which would be most seriously threatened by Russian encroachments, would certain ly demand consideration. Besides, Russia is cordially hated by the Ger man people, and even in the army, whose pride has now and then been se- verely offended by the taunts of Rus sian officers, there is a strong current of anti-Russian feeling. These infu- ences might finally succeed in turning Germany against the Franco-Russian combination, and oppose to it vastly superior army of forces