New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-21
MAY SEIZE CHINESE PORIS.
DESIGNS OF THE POWERS IN THE FAR
EAST.

MOVEMENTS OF THE BRITISH EASTERN SQUAD
RoN-wHAr WILL ENGLAND GET7-rHE
DAPHNE's VISIT TO PORT ARTHUR
RUssINS POSITION.
London Dec 2O-The officials Of the chinese
Embassy here do not conceal their belief that the
Powers are intending to seize Chinese ports ana
they dlscredit the report that Great -'ritah mas
been requested to assume protectorate o'ei ''e
Yang Use Valley and the West River saying
that they have no information on the suoJec''
but would knOT II the rumor was well lou"ue"'
Sir Halliday Mccartney, the English Secre'a'!
OF the Chinese Embassy. was asked TO-DAY Il
Russa's possession OF Port Arthur would be
temporary. He replied that this plea was usu
ally made n pretext for occupation
An unconfrmed report Is current here 'hat
part OF the British Far Eastern Squadron VIII
be stationed at Wei-Hai-Wei this winter II
true. this indicates that Great Britain Is work
ing with Japan The latter still occupies "ei-
Hai-We!. pending payment OF the Chinese war
indemnity.
The evening newspapers are much oistuioeu
over the situation. What do we get! Is the
burden Of their complaint and they all iheiS'
on the necessity for immediate action Inc
Globe says: Russia and Germany now nave
the two most important strategical positions III
Northern China and Great Britain whose CUM
mercai interests there ten times greater
must be content with the crumbs from the ~
Petersburg and Berlin tables
The Pail Mall Gazette" echoes The Stahu-
ards" inquiry as TO Americas attitude ana re-
marks: "Ot course, the partition or tAe coas''
which Is hound to come, Will not be confined 70
Russia and Germany. Every naVai ota'e !"
the world is actively concerned in the disturb
iIrf,, In no
Britain. France and Japan especially But the
United States cannot be treated as quantity
to be ignored Tame acquiescence with .hese
seizures is rot worthy OF our past and Is fatai
TO our future We may remark that we sha''
NOT be without sympa thizers. as the japanese
will most joyfully back any scheme 10 reu'ess
the hitter humiliation they have suffered al 'he
hands of Russia"
Advlces received here from Paris show France
ie awaiting Great Brltain's action. III Great
britain follows the lead Of Russia ana Germany
ard occupies a seaport. France VIII forth"Hh
do the same.
Rer,in Dec. 2O-The Paris correspondent OF
m, Cologne Gazette" telegraphs his paper that
ne learns on good authority that the Russian
occupation Of Port Arthur was connected with
tho visit there Of the British warshlp Daphne
week ago. when In spite of the protests OF the
4
presumably TO ascertain whether there were
Russian ships there China complained OF tne
incident To the representatives OF the Powers
at Peking . ,. ..
Tho British Far Eastern Squadron Is SAID 20
,s a, Talicmoan and. according to the CORE
spondent mentioned Is shortly expected at Fort
Arthur. ,,.,
Tho Cologne Gazette" regards the occupation
as merely a continuance Of the cooperation OF
Germany with Russia in Eastern Asia ,
The rumor is current here that the briUsi
Aafa
ror Ouelpaert Island. at the entrance ol 'He
yellow sea presumably 20 occupy H. The zone
Of tn. German press Is favorable 10 some such
action on the part ot Great Britain.
St Petersburg Dec. 20-The "Novostf' de-
clares tha; the occupation OF Port Arthur mas
nothing political behind It. and says: ut must
be matter OF Indifference TO the Powers VINO
ore not planning seizures OF Chinese territory
as 10 which point the Russian squadron c"ooSeS
FOR It's winter station.
London. Dec. 21-The newspapers are sun
husilv discussing the partition of China the
Daily Mai" has dispatch from Shanghai de-
r,ipr that Russia has seized Port Arthur. but
,bta nrobablv only means that the RUSSIANS
boto not vet actually landed.
Tho REPORTS concerning tho Daphne ana me
nrl-Ish fleet WinieriuG at Wel-Hal-Nel are ON
rially denied but Il is alleged, with some sho"
- .i,thoritv that the Government knew of Kus-
s.,,s crcuDation Of Port Arthur last Friday. ana
tbat tho cabinet sat three hours discussing the
situation.
Yokohama. Dec 21-Russia has notified to
Japan the temporary occupation of fort Arthur'
ALrge Japanesc squadron has left Nsgasak.