The times., 1897-12-12
CRAB CAME OF THE POWERS
European Statesmen Look to the
DiSmemberment of China.
GERMANY TAKES THE LEAD
Chinese Emperor's Hope Lies in the
Possible Disagreement OF the
Plunderers-Sag Assumed
Satisfaction With McKinIey's Mes
sage Slap at British Society.

LondoE, Dec. -(Copyrlght. l--The ini-
pending partition OF China, although not
expressed in quite such bold terms, is u
subject which is absorbing the minds nf
most European statesmen. The accounts
are somewhat conflicting in regard to lie
| concessions actually obtained by Germany
but there S no longer any doubt that they
are most important and significant. The
supineness OF the Chinese government is
not yet explained. II was at first ex-
pected that tie Oriental authorities would
show s8mG OF the Abdul Hanid sort Jf
cleverhess and plot to get the rival powers
to fight their battle for them against the
German aegressors.
There is no sign of this as yet, and thn
Appearances at The moment suggest that
each Of the great powers is SO engrossed
in covetous plans Of its own that it is un-
willing 10 interfere with the adveniurJIs
Kaiser 1t would surprise nohotls in the
dplon, tic world If the game Of grab
should 80 becoue scramble OF which
China would be the hopeless yictltn. II
may safely he assumed that Great Britain
is noi included in any general scheml for The
partition Of the Chinese empire, If such q
scheme exists, butiJ is also certain that Lord
Salisbury VIII do his best TO get "a flhI
share Tor England.
1t is the danger of a falling out among
the piundereTs upon which the Emperor
of China is perhaps relying for preserva-
ton, because such a danger is very great
unless Great Britain shall satisfy herself
with a meag gel portion OF the spotIs 1t
is remarkable, on the whole, that the de
velopnents Of the past three weeks in
the far East have caused so little ex-
citement III Europe. The only ont ward
sign OF the extreme tension OF the stu
alton has been the almost daily va binet
councils in London, and the great &c
tivity III the nigh councils OF the other
capitals.
Europe has taken little interest in
President Mckinley y'smessage. Spain alone
looked 10 il as enilodying the fate of that
nation curing the next few months TherI
was at first some erratic comment III
Madrid, but the Sagasta ministry has lde
extraordinary efforts to Impress the nildest
possible Interpretation OF the Presidents
language upon Spanish minds. sagasta
himself has done this publicly and privately
in the most assiduous wsy This is san
Pic Of his LANGUAGE
81 did not expect so much from Pyesi-
dent Mckinley. The question of the right
! OF nations is dealt with in ap 7--o.''i- ~
manner AS regards his utteTances in re-
spect to the work achieved by the Spanish
government, we can find no faulC ,,leil
them. They do us justice with reference
to certain details to which it was first
thought tie Government might take ex-
ceptiun. 1t is the old question. Ever
since S23, when the Cuban question origi
mated, It mas been the details which have
| caused the misunderstanding. That is the
| only fault ] can find with the message
Il believe the message will have an i'm
mediate effect upon affairs in Cuba. II
must affect the insuuaction considerably
| in an adverse way, whilst our reforns will
receive a powerful stimulant. The Cortes
! is not yet To be dissolved. 1t is necessa ry
| that we should know the effect of the mes,
! sage on the United states Congress. We
shall see very soon. The terms employed
by Mckinley have given the liveliest salts
| faction tc the whole corps diplonatique in
Madrid, and all its members have coagratu-
lated me by telephone
1t is. OF course, necessary to the plans of
the Saga sta government that Spain accept
the Intssag in this spirit, but it is by no
means certain that the country VIII look
at the situation through the premier's
spectacies.
Lord Charles Beresford can always bede-