The Anaconda standard., 1897-12-31
In the Orient.

= TNDER London date the Standard
printed yesterday morning an
item Of news which recited the
confirmation of the report that France
had seized an island off the south coast
of China, bit of land separating the
gulf of Tonquin from the China sea.
The area Of the island is about twelve
thousand square miles; exclusive Of
tribes in the interior. it has a population
of million Chinese
Until lately the mere announcement
of seizure of these proportions would
have stirred the civilized world At
every court in Europe diplomacy would
be on edge. Protests would fly from
capital to capital. exciting comment
would fill the newspapers and every
where loud talk about vast war passi-
bilities would he heard Always, hith-
erto. that would have been the result;
as things are. however, the action Of
France passes as q matter-o of-faet incl
dent. II is simply construed To be
minor event in the carving of China,
one of the most remarkable perform
anees Of modern times. the news Of
yesterday serves no other purpose than
TO stimulate public curiosity as towhich
of the christian" nations, in further
ance Of the spread of the gospel, will
come in for the next slice.
Whether the operations now in prog
ress respecting China are the result of u
compact between the European powers
or whether ii all is merely a haphazard
grab where each power intends ta take
care Of itself. no person not in the
depths Of European diplomacy can
guess. Nor is It an easy matter to
conclude what the alliances are that are
represented in what manifestly il in
tended 10 he an astounding partitloning
of territory. The inference is that Eng
land IS in sympathy with Japan, that
France Is permitted by Russia to take
hand that Russia herself asks no.
bady's leave, and that Germany Is in
merely To take chances on the final
results. In his speech at kiel. when his
brother was about 10 sail fer Chinese
waters, the Kaiser made the indefinite
remark that Germany will insist on
having share in the lands which
promise rich development In com
meree.' OF course. the kaiser's shabby
pretext nj the outset was his anxiety
for the missionaries whose stations are
within Chinese boundaries.
Rather in the natural order of events.
England and Japan might be expected
to make common cause England long
ago secured commercial privileges in
China. England forced these in the
first place, but they have been opera
tive SO long as 10 have become a sort
of mutual arrangement. Then, too.
England has shown no intention 10 add
70 her Asiatic possessions. Japan
makes broad claims on the ground that
her recent achievement in war has
earned fer her certain rights to terrific
rial conquest Al the expense Of the Chi
nese. Then. too. Japan's intentions re-
sneeting Corea are well known, and
these intentions appear 10 have given
an impetus 10 the cars government.
Tile relations II Corea may preeipl-
tate a magnificent war BY the treaty
made at the close of the war between
Japan and China. Careu was declared
an independent power at liberty 10
make its own alliances. Russia has la
bored diligently 10 win the good will or
Corea. Ever since Russia widaned her
borders until they touched corea On the
north for q slight distance nothing has
been LETT uudeHe 10 court the good viii