The times., 1898-10-02
Especial cablegram-copyrighted.)

| ton in Pekin is treated here as a minor
occurrence in the slow solution of the
Chinese question. What the European
powers are now striving to decide is
whether the decrepit Empire shall be
henceforth a dependency of the Cars.
or territory that is to be made acces-
sible to the rest of the world to in
crease the worlds wealth.
There is no deed to dogmatize under
which system the Chinese people would
be the happiest, but it can be affirmed
from the standpoint of the struggle be-
tween the statement now waging. that 1t
does not affect the issue whether the
Emperor of China is alive or dead.
The new man who mounts the throne
will. like Alexander /. of Russia. "be
preceded by men who murdered his
grandfather, surrounded by men who
murdered his father and followed by
men who may murder himself" There
is the best OF reason for believing that
Lord Salisbury will hold steadily aloof
from this turmoil and intrigue.
An influential supporter of the prime
minister says today:
Our concern is with what the rulers
of China do, not who they are. If we
restore the emperor or any pretender
to full authority, we must help him
govern China, must protect him from
all foreign and domestic foes. and
must, in fact, govern China. Under
taken, it would in the end require an
army, and the job is too big for men
of sense to undertake"
The AngIo-German Agreement.
On the other hand. the Governments
supporters are hoping much from the
extension of the Angio-German agree
ment to joint action for certain pur-
poses in China Germany's action in
precipitating China's collapse by the
seizure of Kiao Chau was strongly
anti-English. but even this since has
taught the wisdom of considering GER
tain measures as the alternative of
having to face disastrous accomplished
facts.
The idea of any kind of cooperation
with Germany is still very unpopular
here. the supporters of the government
arguing to their constituents that il
Is perfectly pOSSiDlC W teAALg lbIOuSh
| a successful enterprise with a man for
| whom they have no affection.
The past week has seen several i'm
portant disclosures as to the extent OF
the Anglo-German agreement respect
ing Africa. 1t was received without
friendly comment, in marked contrast
to the enthusiastic support given to
every suggestion of AnglcAmerjcan
cooperation. If the afternoons grave
news from Pekin effects the latter con-
summation it will, by far, be the most
popular achievement in the present
governments career. 1t would be pre-
mature TO connect the stoning of the
English and Americans with the pal
ace revolutions. but people here already
see in the choice Of the former victims
the result of a Russian corruption fund
acting on Russias ignorant and over
jealous converts.
Affects All of Africa
The understanding with Germany
seems to relate to the entire African
contingent, and not only to revision of
the Portuguese colony. The bulk of the
German press, in pursuance of mu-
tual dislike between the Berlin and
London papers. candidly avow that
| they have been publishing articles urg-
ing the French to insist on the retention
of Fashoda, but the Koelnische Zeitung
prints today communication inspired
by the foreign office, as follows:
Taking account of the relative num-
Der of forces in the Soudan, as well as
the general situation there, France can
hardly expect to uphold her claim to
the possession of Fashoda. England is
firmly resolved that she will not toler-
ate the French points in the Appui in
the Soudan under any circumstances
The difficulty in bringing about an
understanding mainly consists in the
question of how to find way out with
out hurting French susceptibilities and
a way which would offer compensations
wherewith the French government
could, to the outside public at any rate.
declare Itself satisfied"
DIR. Leyds Ignored.
DR.. Leyds has been in Berlin this
week, in behalf of the Transvaal gov
ernment, but he has returned to the
Hague without seeing the Kaiser In
fact, his reception at the foreign office
there was most unfriendly, and he fall
ed to see even Herr Won Bulow
After this, Englishmen will not be
surprised at any extension of Anglo
German political cooperation.
M. De Blowitz, the Paris CORES
pondent, sends the Times an account
of the frame of mind possessed by the
Spaniards of the International Peace
Commission. He says that in the eyes
of the Spaniards the sole question to be
discussed is the Philippines. They are
as firmly resolved to resist the preten-
sions of the Americans as the Ameri-
cans are resolved not to abandon an
inch of their pretensions in Cuba and
Porto Rico. The phrasing of the dis
patch suggests that its contents were
communicated by the Spanish commits
siOners. 1t says: