Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-25
United States D cides Not to Med lie with
Broken China,
WILL PLAY THE ROLE OF SPECTATOR
erfcnn- Alliance Is
Not Among the Possibilities, Ac-
cording to Views Expressed
ut Cabinet Meeting.

Secretary Alger, who is i'll at his home.
While no formal action was taken in the alb
sence of specific information as to the in
tention Of the powers Of Europe, 1t was de-
termined. as a member of the cabinet ex-
pressed it. ITO keep watchful eye upon
the situation as it developed, in order that
full protection may be given to the interests
of the United States in China, as guaranteed
by our treaties with that country"
No disposition was manifested to partici-
pate In an extension of territory at the ex-
pense of China. Such disposition would
be cc1trary to the hitherto expressed ano
well understood policy of this government
and is not contemplated by the administra-
ton. 1t was determined, however, to protect
carefully all interests and privileges which
the United States now enjoys in China.
The cabinet understanding as to the at
ttude of the Uuited States in the Chinese
question promises to have a material in
iuence Gu the development Of the eastern
situation. The diplomats stationed there
have eagerly awaited some intimation as to
the purposes OF this government and the
foreign papers, notably at London Berlin and
Vienna, have re-echoed the sentiments at
those courts that If the United States catered
the field, either singly or in coalition with
Great Britain and Japan, 1t would prove
material factor in the Chinese question.
The general understanding reached today
doubtless will be made known to such for
eign representatives as desire to sound this
government and the information in turn will
reach the foreign offices a.. London Berlin,
st. Petersburg and elsewhere. 1t will be
disappointment to some extent to China,
which has looked N the TTnitei Statas n
the nation occupying disinterested position
permitting it to exert strong influence in
| staying the dsmemberment of the empire.
China has made no advances to this govern
ment, however, but has occupied a passive
attitude.
Tho views expressed at the cabinet meet
ing put an end to any possibility of an
Anglo-American-Jap panese alliance such as
the foreign cables have suggested.
RUSSIA ON THE ALERT.
LONDON, Dec. 25.-Russia according to a
special dispatch from Shanghai, is preparing
| temporary headquarters for 600 troops at
| Port Arthur. 1t has obtained half PR mise
| from the grand council at Pekin to dismiss
| Sir Robert Hart, director of Chinese imperial
| maritime customs, and other high customs
officials in addition to the British railway
| officers and the German officers and instruc
| tors. Fifty of the latter the dispatch says,
| received notice today Friday) that they
would be paid off at the termination OF their
| contracts. Contrary to general report the
| dispatch asserts that there is good reason to
| believe Great Britain will actively oppose the
Russianization OF Corea and Northern China.
| The Daily Mail publishes a dispatch this
morning (25th) from Tokio which it claims
eva1ed active censorship. The dispatch says:
| England ard Japan, without entering upon
an actual alliance, have arrived at a COM
plete understanding. which will probably re-
| suit in a Joint naval demonstration at the en-
! trance Of the gulf of Pe-Chee-Lee. In diplo-
matte circles at Toxic the probability of a
conflict is regarded as extremely distant"
RUMOR DENIED.
! BERLIN Dec 24.-The Weekly Journal
Zukunft comtats the stsi.ement that Prince
Biymarcli has suddenly become an enthusi-
astic supporter of the Chinese expedition
and that during his recent visit to Fred
rlchsruhe Emperor William communicated
to the prince his most secret plans. says
| Emperor William and Prince Bismarck die
not exchange a syllable as to politics, an;
tie plan is solely the emperor's. 1t is tht
interest OF both men that this fact should
| rot be obscured, and those jealous person!
who are always trying to represent Prince
| Bismarck as a secret collaboration in tht
changing experiments OF a new course viii
essuredly get no thanks either from Pots
dam or Friedrichs;uhe."
The Neuste Nachrichten says that sine,
the occupation of Kiao Chau bay the Chimes
government has engaged military instruc
| is cir for
tions to Prince Henry of Prussia at the diff
ferent Chinese ports he viii visit.
The Post reite;ates its statement that tn
Unted States has no interest in the presen
territorial changes in China and adds tina
England displays Surprising navete' II
soliciting American sympathy.
ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 24.-The Move
Vremya advises England to come to an ar
rangement with Russia. France and Ger
many. but says 1t does not expect Lord Sal
isbury to accept the advice, because unde
such an agreement England would not ge
the lions share of China"
| VIENNA, Dec. 24.-The Vennese paper
comment with apparent Joy on the Berlii
rumors that England's inquiries at Wash
ington regarding common action in Chin
have failed of the desired result.
| RUSSIA PREPARES FOR TROUBLE.
, NEW YORK, Dec. PA special to tn
Herald from Washington says: The Russia
government will begin next spring
stupendous piece OF work. which, like tn
transsiberian railroad will be OF grea
strategic and commercial value when com
pleted. The project contemplates the con
structicn OF canal connecting the Balti
and Black seas, which canal can be traverse
by battleskips OF the heaviest tonnage at si
knots per hour. BY means OF this cana
Russia Will be able to mobilize a huge fee
in the Baltic in sixty-seven hours by bring
ing to that sea the Black sea squadron, or ca
collect in the Black sea In the same tim
, the Baltic and Black sea fleets. In case OF
general European war over the division 0
! China at the time OF the completion OF tn
: canal Ii would not be a difficult matter TO
Russia to send it's fleet here through tn
Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmora and tn
Dardanelles into the Mediterranean. dow
the suez canal across the Indian ocean I
China. while 1t could utilize the trans
siberian railroad TO transport troops. Tn
canal will remove the necessity OF sendin
, , feet across the North sea and down tn
Atlantic In order TO reach the Medterranea