New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-06
rrrpING EVEN WITH RUSSIA
nIrOrR EXPLAINS ENGLAND'S
POLICY IN CHINA.

r.v, TAKEN ONLY AFTER RUSSIA HAD
.s,rc, RpEp GREAT RRITAINs PROTEST
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF CHINA OF
POSED FOR TIE present
uARcoURrs REPLY
,ru 1.-THE House Of Commons was
,oa today with persons anxious to hear
..,,o,t Of Arthur j. Ralfour, the Govern
=" loader and Acting Secretary OF state for
Nc, Affairs on the subject of the situation
49, Ear East. The galleries were filed. and
-" ,hn DISTINGUISHED strangers gallery We're
mo,v diplomats. including Colonel John HAY.
,ha United states Ambassador
AZ Bolfour. who was loudly checred on rising,
.o,aa tho concessions obtained by Great
n..,a,n namely that the region of the Yang
-. K,anc should not he alienated 10 any for
ION Power that the successor of Sir Robert
80. 30 Director of the Chinese Imperial Mari
.,,,o customs is 10 be an EnGlishman. and that
..ooes N the inland waters is TO be had by
,,s .. all nations 4 fourth concession. Mr..
poi&our continued only occurred a day or two
..o namely the opening of three new treaty
nor,s-Funing. Yochau and Chin-Wang. This,
.ocording to Mr. Balfour was a considerable
,o-vost for two months negotiations.
relative TO the German acquisitions 81 rail-
.ooas Mr. Ralfour said that wherever they We're
INSTRUCTED they must be a benefit 10 British
commerce He preferred railroads and differen-
,,,i duties 10 no railroads and no duties.
lie believed neither Germany nor Russia had
any Intention of deprivng Great Britain OF any
~ her treaty rights in China. Germany had
given assurances that the country acquired by
her would be open 10 the commerce Of the
whole world The interests Of Germany and
Great Britain in China. ne explained were iden-
,,cal and he believed the two countries would
be able to work hand in hand
RI-SSIA'S ASSURANCES DISTRUSTED.
Russia Mr. Balfour then said. had also given
assurances but he was bound to admit that the
form Of those assurances had changed still,
assurances had been given that no British
treaty rights had been abrogated by the recent
acquisitions.
The Government thought Russia had pursued
an unfortunate course in taking Port Arthur.
which as Russia herself said in 1895 when
Japan proposed to occupy IT, would. in the
hands Of any foreign Power. constitute menace
10 the capital of China.
Touching upon We-Hai-Wei. Mr.. BalfOur said
that. Russia having secured Port Arthur. on the
secured Wei Hai-Wci to balance matters Had
Russia confined herself to obtaining ice-free
port as a terminus for her railroad.
no complaint would have been made. But un-
fortunately she determined Ia obtain control Of
Port Arthur. which was not and could not he
made a commercial port. AS soon az Great
Britain heard of the negotiations she laid her
views clearly before Russia and expressed her
sense Of the evil the latter we're bringing upon
China.
COMPACT DECLINED
Continuing. Mr. Baltour said We offered II
they would abstain from taking Port Arthur.
10 ourselves give corresponding pledge 10 take
no port on the Gulf Of Pe-Chi-Li. But our offer
was not accepted So on March % We Informed
Russia that we should hold ourselves free 10
take the necessary steps TO safeguard our in
terests. and Great Britain has since obtained a
lease Of Wei-Hai-Wei on the same terms as
those by which Russia secured Port Arthur
Wei Hai-Wei is the only port on the Gulf Of
Pc Chi Ii which might balance the possession OF
Port Arthur While Port Arthur is stronger
he accommodation at We-HaiWei is inesti-
ma bly, greater. and by taking Wei Hai-Wei under
our protection we prevent the Gulf Of Pc Chill
from falling under the maritime control Of one
Power and thus defend our interests
The negotiations have already borne rich fruit
in the interest Of our commerce and tho main
tenance Of our prestige at Peking
Relative to the security Of the future. Mr.
Balfour said IL could not be denied that the
Indications were that China might collapse. and
with further decay fragments might be snapped
up nv various Powers. But II would he mis-
take 20 allow Great Britain's policy 20 be gov
erned by remote contingencies
We desire" he added. "to maintain the IN
tegrity n China so far as possible. but II must
be recoected that the future will probably
have strange surprises in store The balance Of
power in the Far East may be very different
when the disintegration OF China has occurred
The time may come when the great Powers VIII
say that China shall not fall into the hands Of
any one Power and to embark upon no"
difficult and costly enterprise In order to ward
Of remote and doubtful danger would be
political folly.
THE WAY TO GAIN FRIENDS
Her Mstestys Government asks tho country
TO indorse this policy with more confidence be
cause We know that Grea, Britain has the sym
pay o. the great commercial community
throughout the world Cheers ! believe the
time may come when the great commercial
Powers Will Join in an alliance 10 prevent China
falling a prey 70 any exclusive influence. and |
an convinced that Great Britain. by continuing
her present unselfsh policy Of opening 70 all
what she secures for herself. will build up In
Europe and not the least. in America, a body
q public International opinion which VIII be
more powerful than any hasty action Great
Britain might take at the present moment.
LIBERAL LEADERS RETORT.
Sir William Harcourt the Liberal leader In the
House replied 10 Mr Balfour He spoke satir-
icaly Of the policy of the open door and
asked the reason for the change Of policy. he
tad the treaty % Tien-Tsin gave British ships
the right 10 use any port IN China. and he ex-