The record-union., 1898-08-21
THE TROUBLE BETWEEN ENG
LAND AND RUSSIA.

The "Record-Union" believes that the
stories of the strained relations be-
tween Russia and England are much
exaggerated, Russia is doing all her
power, and has practically succeeded
in monopolizing the trade of the
Yangtse Valley in China through con-
cluded railway concessions. A large
party in England demands that the
Government shall protest against this
and insist upon equal concessions to
British capital. They do not ask that
any concessions granted to Russia shall
be vacated, but they do ask China to
refuse any further grants without
treating English capital in like manner
and that Russian influence in crippling
the British railway concessions shall be
rebuked and checked
To China this party has said resist
Russian push and England will stand
abreast with you against Russia But
China has refused TO get between the
millstones, and Russia has had her
way freely. The aggressive party in
England is headed by Mr.. Chamberlain,
the London Times" and Lord Beres-
ford. They would have the English Gov
ernment do something speedily to check
the movement of Russia in China. They
declare that unless that is done Rus
sia will soon dominate Mongolia, and
nd h.
Northwestern China They pretend to
fear even for English power upon the
Indian frontier
Lord Salisbury and the cooler headed
statesmen Of England reply that the
demand for "the open door," the fair
play game for England in the markets
of the Orient is enough; that she can
not compel English capital to enter
China, get concessions and build rail-
ways, much less build them herself:
that in fact English capital has fought
shy Of such investment because no
guarantee could be had from China to
secure it. 1t is no part of the duty
of the Government. says Lord Salisbury
and Mr.. Curzon. to hunt up routes for
railways in foreign lands for English
capital to improve upon. But the Gov
ernment's duty is to protect the rights
Of Englishmen wherever they secure
concessions and make investments large
or small AS for the Government build
ing railways on foreign soil It does not
propose TO do anything of the kind.
no matter how much Russia INDUCES in
that doubtful policy.
But the Government Of England will
contend for the open door for trade,
and, If necessary, viii fight for it, It
is entitled to trade into the valley of the
Yangtse and 1t will resist exclusion
IN the interest Of a monopolizing ma
ton. If the British concession for a
railway line in New Chang is perfect
ed and built upon, the Government will
defend every right gained under IL. lust
as it would defend the right of the
humblest cotter to his thatched roof
Indeed, the Government had notified
China that 1t would sustain her in re-
sisting any aggression due to the grant
of any concessions to English syndi-
Gates. That had reference to the de-
mand of Russia that China should for
bid the mortgaging of the English rail-
way scheme as security for the cost
of building. But China, thinking the
easier way out was to comply with
Russian demand, has acquiesced in 1t,
and that action has practically killed
the British railway enterprise.
In the meantime France and Ger
many are driving wedges in China that
make it easier for Russia TO contem-
plate and some day carry out its move
ment southwark, and it is this that
alarms the Times" Mr. Chamberlain
and their party. But, as is suggested
by number Of commercial writer's. If
Russia opens up China to a new and
vast trade, England will get her share
of 1t. But that share will not be pro-
portionately as large as at present. as
she carries now 50 per cent. of China,s
foreign trade and pays 76 per cent. OF
the Chinese revenues from it. The New
York Post" suggest that If Russia i'm