The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-10-26
Russia Not TO Be Permitted TO
Annex Northern China.
STIR IN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES.
Newspapers Call on Salisbury TO Is
sue Another Ultimatum.
The Press aud the Clubs Talk of Moth
ing Else But Rus,ia's Bold Attempt
10 Drive the japanese Out of Korea
and to Annex the IIaotung Penin-
sula.

London. Oct. 25.-The 81. James Gazette
says: Even war with Russia would be
less disastrous than 10 allow her without
a blow 10 get such a grip upon China that
she could throttle all the other powers
and choke off their commerce. Unless
Russia ana China gave the necessary as-
surances il Is case for an ultimatum.
and perhaps the most serious step our di-
plOmacy has had since the Crimean war"
The impression is general in the official
world. and il is re-echOed by the press.
that neither America nor Germany can
allow the Pacific TO become Franca-
Russian lake" as the Globe puts it. and IL
is generally thought that the diplomats
will be sufficiently strong 10 combine TO
resist Russian aggression.
The Pail Mall Gazette sums up the start
ling news from the far East with the
statement that Russia has annexed Chi
ma" and in the course of a long article
on the subject adds: ''If this treaty is TO
stand roll up the map of Asia In conclu-
sion the Pail Mall Gazette urges the re-
occupation OF Port Hamilton by the Brit
ish. and the immediate strengthening Of
the British fleet in Chinese waters. lest
Japan lose her fleet at the first blow
Since this important news was circu-
lated the greatest activity has been dis
played in the government offices here. par
ticularly at the foreign office and at the
admiralty. and the coming and going OF
messengers was continuous throughout
the morning and business hours of the
afternoon. At the different clubs the war
scare in the East ia eagerly discussed,
the grave situation of affairs in Venezuela
having almost completely dropped out Of
recollection in the alarm of the moment.
Nobody seems 10 doubt the report that
by the recently agreed upon Russo-China
treaty Russia has obtained rights TO
which the most favored nation clause is
not applicable. which may cause great
war. The correspondent OF the Times at
Hongkong. who sent the sensational news.
is described by his newspaper as being
lin close relations with men who are able
TO penetrate beneath the surface Of
things" and il is therefore concluded that
the news he has just sent cannot he dis
regarded The foreign Office declares to-
day that 1t has no confirmation OF the
report.
The Standard. Conservative. editorially
considers that the Times Hongkong dis
patch. reporting important concessions to
Russia by China. Is a balon d'essai on
Russia's part Even II the mandarins
continues. it would only be with the COM
forting assurance that they would face
the opposition of Japan and tho powers
The covenant would be mere waste paper.
An editorial in tho Chronicle says. we
think that. thus nenaced by Russia. ia
pan will refuse to evacuate Port Arthur
1t is not ineonceivabIe that II Russia at
tempts such a step, England and Japan
will form an offensive and defensive ALI
ance. If Lord Salisbury will only be
able TO make up his mind what 10 do
and how 10 do il. he has a chance to gain
high credit to himself"