Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-02
NEWS FROM FAREAST
FIvE-sIxTHs MAY SAFELY DE
LABELLED "GUEsswORK.v
GREAT BRITAIN BIDING HER TIME.
She VIII Act Promptly and vigo-
rousiy Mt the Proper Moment
cd-London Notes of Interest.

| t'oDSIiEHtt loJ's ny Aii' <AH'C'idt'A 4 A'9of
LONDON. January 1.-The ingenuity
displayed in manufacturing news from
the far East Is remarkable. Five sixths
OF the statements can be safely labelled
"guesswoi'S." The British and Russian
| Foreign Offices are as dumb as oysters.
and the German stream of conflicting
communications in the semi-ohical press
shows that they do not know on which
foot they are standing. France Is ap-
parently in the dark, while the Mikado
has dissolved the Japanese Diet In order
that opinions should not be expressed.
Under the circumstances. 1t is not
! strange that accurate information Is DIFF
ncult. to obtain. The known facts cor
roborate the statement cabled to the
Associated Press on Saturday last, that
Great Britain is carefully watching the
situation, biding her time. and will GER
tainly not fail TO act promptly and vigor-
| ously at the proper moment. 1t was
| pointed out in that dispatch that in we'll
! informed circles the scare in the news
| papers in regard TO the far East was 1T
| least premature. and that the members
| OF the government were evidently sincere
| In disclaiming the least alarm. This
| view Of the case was practically reite-
| rated by the Daily Graphic on Friday.
when It asserted that there was every
reason to believe that the Russians would
adhere to their pledge TO evacuate Port
Arthur at the end OF the winter. and
therefore there were no grounds for COM
plant on the part Of the government.
The Daily Graphic further pointed out
that the British Government did not re-
gard the occupation Of Kiao-Chau by the
Germans IS calling for action. because
British interests were not threatened.
Both the Foreign Office and the Ad-
miralty, according to the Daily Graphic,
were agreed on this point
KOREAN QUESTION.
Evidently, apart from the question Of
the Chinese ioan the Korean question Is
more interesting for Great Britain at the
present moment than the questions OF
Port Arthur and KiaO-Chau. principally
because the Marquis Of Salisbury sees.
in the attempt 10 GUST j. McLeavy
Brown, the British superintendent of
Korean customs, "A serious scheme to
overturn Sir Robert Hart. the British
director Of the Chinese Imperial mari
time customs, which has apparently been
nipped in the bud. The Cabinets exist
ei.ce would be short If II permitted Rus
STA to coerce the Tsung-N-Yamen Chi
nese Foreign Office into dismissing the
British head Of the Chinese customs.
1t is not known yet whether the British
Government will approve Of the arrange
ment arrived at, according TO cable DIS
patch from Pekin, by which McLeaVy |
Brown and NJ. Alexieff. the Russian |
agent in Korea. will work the Korean |
customs together.
The British ministers appear 70 be |
somewhat dstrustful, so the war-ships |
of Great Britain. which are at present of |
Chemulpo, the port Of Seoul, in order to |
give moral support to Mr.. Brown, VIII |
remain there for the present.
1t IS by no means clear that British in
terests are seriously threatened at the
present moment, and Britain can proDa-
bly, well afford TO wait till spring. when
unless normal conditions are resumed,
she will undoubtedly take the steps ne
cessary to protect her interests and re-
establish the balance OF power
CHINO-JAPANESE ALLIANCE.
The Spectator publishes an interesting
article on Japan's policy, in which the
writer regards the Marquis Itos return
to power and Japans offer to assist the
officers at Pekin in drilling the Chinese
army. and her proposal to consent 10 a
postponement of the war indemnity, as
possibly foreshadowing a Chino-Japanese }
alliance The writer adds that he is con-
yinced the Marquis Ito thinks that Sc
curing perpetual control OF the resources
i'm trade and soldiers OF China is within
his power, and that If Japans offer is
accepted, Europe, according TO the writer
n the Spectator, will be beaten, ''for she
has not the means TO make the effort ne
,essary to conquer the united yellow peo-
Pies"
FINANCIAL SITUATION.
The financial barometer does not show
my decided trepidation. Consols are i'm
proving There is not the slightest sign
IF the selling which always marks real
,louds on the political horizon, and there
IRE signs of reaction in the long-con-
inued depreciation in land. Farms are
selling and renting more Freely ana al
higher prices The improvement Is at
ributed partly to the rise in the price OF
wheat and partly to the cheapness OF
money. Capitalists are glad even OF the
,eggarly interest yielded by land invest
nents. "
TITLES PURCHASABLE.
The New-Year honor list is weak and
decidedly partisan. 1t attracted little in
crest from the public, outside of the
of Mr.. Thomas j. Upton, the
Millionaire provision merchant, whose
nightaee establishes the fact that titles ,
re purchl sable, for the honor bestowed I
non him was. of course, due to his gift
f e25. 900 Gl2j,0oO to the Princess Oh
Wales Jubilee fund for feeding the out
asst poor OF London. n
Or. Jameson, the Transvaal raider, in
n interview, predicts that Mr. Cecil .
rhodes will be Premier of Cape Colony :
n 1898. =
GANGS OF MURDERERS.
The Paris police during the week Sc I
ured many members of the organized q
angs of robbers and murderers which 4
ave terrorzed the suburbs Of the French I
apital for months past. The new ar
ests number thirty-three, and the Oldest
risoner is only q years old.
Within six months the bodies of fifty
hree murdered persons have been found v
, q small section Of the River Seine, b
nd II is believed most of the murders c
re traceable 10 these gangs. There have p
cen innumerable attacks and robberies a
! the streets. and the police are satisfied
nat all the gangs, a number of the MEM
ers of which have been arrested within
10 past six months, acted in concert
nd under central administration. &
Visits made by the police to the abodes a
the persons arrested have resulted in Il
,e discovery OF arsenals OF revolvers,
lggerg, clubs. knuckle-dusters, hammers n
fixed TO bamboo canes, and leaden balls d
.tached to wires.
NEW YEAR MOB.
The annual wild scene welcomed the