The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-13
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Russian government entities him to
speak with some authority.
Russia's Intentions.
Russia" he says, has no intention
of anneXing Manchuria. All she desires
is the right to run a railway TO an ice
free port No doubt we believe that
Manchuria viii ultimately belong to US,
but that may not be in fifty or a hun
Qred years. We are in no hurry to pre-
cipitate the partition of China. For
one reason We do not believe it possible
10 partition that great empire. China
is not Africa. Her inhabitants have
yellow skins, not black. as | see some
German correspondents are lamenting
at the present moment. The real Eu-
ropean interests are centered in de-
yelCping China commercially, not divid-
ing Chira territorially.
We have been in no hurry to secure
an ice-free port. Until We had com
pleted the Siberian railway we
were not ia need of such d port Had
we had our own way that question
would probably have been left unset
tied for several years. but our hands
have been forced by circumstances. Our
policy in the far East is not one Of
hurry. We can well afford to wait the
development of events.
Ii Hung Chang Pro-Russian.
i do not think there is much doubt
that we viii obtain what We ask. Ii
Hung Chang, who was immensely i'm
pressed with the greatness Of Russia
when he visited that country, is sup
porting Russia's claims In Russia We
did not bow down To Ii Hung Chang
as if he were the viceroy Of China. We
treated him simply as the ambassador
of his country The consequence was
that he was more impressed with Rus
sia's power than that of the Western
nations who made a great deal Of him
War with Japan OF any other power
may delay, but cannot prevent. our OBJ
tanning an ice-free port. War might
probably force US in Self-defense TO an
mex Manchuria. which otherwise it is
not 10 our interest TO do. We consider
war between Japan and ourselves inev-
in The far East is that Japan must re-
main an island power. We regard the
far Eastern question as a much more
serious problem than the mere rivalry
for territorial and trade privileges. 1t
is a question Of the predominance OF
The white or yellow race. If Japan is
allowed to join forces with China, the
races VIII be doomed. Therefore, our
policy IS directed To keeping the Japan
csc ambitions within bounds"
1t is curious that great political i'm
portance is still attached To the visit
Of the queen TO France at this juncture.
The Spectator dweIls on this point with
great emphasis today, saying:
The queens health and contentment
/ are both of high interest to her sub
I jects. but we cannot think that her
majesty has been well counseled in this
matter. The greatest difficulty between
London and Paris is that NJ. HanotauX
VIII not believe US to be in earnest
4 Il is simply impossible to make him be
! Heve that il Salisbury had resolved tc
fight rather than to yield, he would
/ permit the queen TO spend her holiday
on French territory. Such an incident
would be a little too historical. Even in
the event Of a declaration Of war Presi-
( dent Faure would not venture to arrest
a lady so revered in Germany and Rus
STA as we'll as at home, but there is &
4 popular emotion to be reckoned with
and the situation would be one Of eX-
! IRENE embarrassment"
England's Naval Demonstration.
! It is important TO point out again the
/ unobtrusive but vast augmentation OF
the British naval force in the far East
and at other points, which is proceed
ing as rapidly as men can be found Il
| equip the fleet The speech Of Right
/ Hon. George GoEchen, first lord of the
admiralty on Thursday evening. in in.
PRODUCING the naval estimates, has
| fully confirmed the various statement.
in this correspondence during the las
three months The announcement
which caused the most surprise wa!
that the Channel squadron. now NOR,
powerful than ever, would not be lin
tied TO the channel.
The defense Of the shores Of Grea
Britain in war time would be intrusteC
to the reserve ships now kept in com
I mission. Those reserve ships were
placed in commission at the beginning
Of the year, and behind them are nearly
n score Of other ships mostly old. bu
stiI useful, battleships, partly com
missioned and capable Of taking tn,
seas in an incredibly short time. TIL,
ability TO utilize the Channel squadron
or a part of 1t away from home add.
Immensely TO the British power in Eu
rope, and Mr.. GOschen's announcement
is likely To cause a great sensation il
France, Russia and Germany when tn,
responsible experts Of those countrie.
have had time to digest it, Mr.
| Goschen also confirmed the statement.
Of q reinforcement of the China flee
| by vessels from the Pacific and Aus
| Iralian stations, as wen as by addi