The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-26
Salisbury Knows What Is Going On,
and VIII Act Promptly if the Me-
cessity Should Arise.
NOT SURPRISED At GERMANY
FOR 1T WAS WELL KNOWN THE
KAISER WANTED KIAOCHAU BAY.
WilheIm's Efforts to Arrange with
China Not Likely to Succeed.
Copyright. 1897, by the Associated press)

Copyright 1897 by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, Dec. 25.--In wel-informed cir
cles the general impression prevails that the
scare in the newspapers and among the
public in regard to the far East is at least
premature. While the members of the gov
ernment are reticent, they are evidently
sincere in disclaiming the least alarm. The
impression gathered in ministerial quarters
is that Great Britain is carefully watching
events, biding her time, and that she GER
tainly will not fail to act promptly and Wig
orously at the proper moment 1t is inti-
mated in quarters usually well posted on
such matters that Germany has, or wishes
to have an understanding on the subject
with Great Britain. This view is strongly
supported by Prince Henrys visit to Queen
Victoria at Osborne, by his subsequent trip
to London and by the autograph letter
which the prince is said to have taken to
her Majesty from Emperor William, of
which confirmation is forthcoming. The
Emperor's letter to the Queen is regarded
as being a distinctly concilatory step upon
the part of Germany. But there is no
doubt Great Britain is quietly preparing for
all eventualities Should it become clear
that Germany and Russia have really COM
menced a game of grab, Great Britain will
be prepared to assert her claims for a di-
vision of the spoils. AT the Chinese en-
bassy the view prevails that there is some
understanding between Great Britain and
Germany
The public scare seems to have arisen
from the idea that the proceedings took
Great Britain by surprise. This is impos-
sible, for since her Intervention in the
Carbohydrates war it has been known that
Germany has only been awaiting favor
able opportunity to obtain a foothold in
China and at various times it has been re-
ported that Lappa, Quemoy and Annoy had
been secured, while year ago German
ships surveyed Kiaochau bay, all of which
was known at the British Foreign Office.
The reception of the German squadron at
Portsmouth, the facilities which the ships
were afforded and will be afforded at all
the British coal depots on their way to
Hong Kong point to the sympathetic sup
port of Great Britain. That Russia does
not expect trouble is shown in the fact
that she has not one battle ship in the
far East. But. Of course, If Russia does not
leave Port Arthur in the spring her stay
there may lead to other grabbings.
The British government, however, is ap-
parently not borrowing trouble. From a
trading point of view, it is pointed out that
even in the event of the opening of these
new foreign ports, they will probably be as
little harmful to Shanghai as Boston Bal
timore and Philadelphia are to New York.
In the meanwhile not a few people regard
the Times editorial expressing satisfaction
at the Bering sea settlement and protesting
against the 'loose insinuations of bad faith
on the part of the United States govern
ment, which have been thoughtessly and
iy1I
withdrawal from the attitude she had as
sumed in connection with Hawaii, as indi-
cations of desire for an Anglo-Japan-
American alliance