The record-union., 1898-01-02
Accurate Information as to the Situation
Difficult to Secure.
Great Britain Carefully Watching
the Turn of Events, Ready to
Act Promptly and Vigorously
at the Proper Moment-The
Corean Question More Interest
ing to Britons Than the Occu-
patton of Port Arthur ana
Kiaochau.

Kiaochau.
LONDON, Jan. 1.-(Copyrighted,
1897. by the Associated ess.)-The in
senuity displayed in manufacturing
news from the Far East is remarka-
BILE. Five-sixths of the statements can
be safely labeled guesswork The
British and Russian Foreign Offices are
as dumb as oysters, and the German
stream of conflicting communications IN
the semi official press shows they 90
not know which foot they are standing
on. France is apparently in the DARK,
while the Mikado has dissolved the
Japanese Diet in order that opinions
shall not be expressed. Under the
circumstances, it is not strange that
accurate information is dlfi1cult 10
secure.
The known facts wholly corroborated
the statements cabled to the Associated
Press on Saturday last, that Great
Britain is carefully watching the sit
uation, biding her time, and VIII not
fail to act promptly and vigorously at
the proper moment. 1T was pointed
out in that 'dispatch that in well-ln-
formed circles the scare in the newspa-
pers IN regard to the East was at
least premature, and that the members
of the Government were evidently sim
cere in disclaiming the least alarm
This view of the case was practically
reiterated by the Daily Graphic on
FridaS. which asserted that there was
every reason to believe the Russians
would adhere to their pledge to evacu-
uate Port Arthur at the end Of the Win
ter. and that, therefore, there were no
grounds for complaint on the part OF
Great Britain. The Daily Graphic"
further pointed out that the British
Government did not regard the occu-
patton Of Kiaochau by the Germans as
calling for action, because British in
teresst were not threatened Both the
Foreign Office and the Admiralty, ac-
cording to the Daily Graphic, WfTe
aer-red on this point
Evidently apart from the Chinese
loan. the Corean question is more inter-
esting for Great Britain at the pres
ent moment than the occupation of
Port Arthur and Kiaochau, principally
because the Marquis of Salisbury sees
in the attempt to Gust ]. MeLeavy
Brown, the British superintendent of
Corean customs, a more serious scheme
to oyerturn Sir Robert Hart, the Brit
ish Directorl of the Chinese imperial
maritime customs, which has appar-
emily been nipped in the bud. The
Cabinets existence would be short if
ii permitted Russia to coerce the
Tsung Lii Yamen Chinese Foreign Of
fice) into dismissing the British head
of the Chinese customs.
1t is not known yet whether the Brit
ish Government will approve of the
arrangements arrived at, according to
a cable dispatch from Pekin, by which
McLeavy Brown and NJ. Alexieff, the
Russian agent in Corea, will work the
Corean customs together. The Brit
ish Minister appears to be somewhat
distrustful, so the warships of Great
Britain. which are at present at Che
mulpo, the port of Seoul, in order to
give moral support to Mr.. Brown, will
remain there for the present.
A diplomat, talking over the alleged
desire of Germany to arrive at an un-
derstauding with Great Britain on the
Far Eastern question, explains that the
change might be due to Germany's dis
satisfaction with her allies. Her faith
in the italian army has been shaken by
the defeats in Erythrea. and the col
lapse of the constitutional Government
of Austria has made the efficiency of
that empire. in case of war, doubtful.
The financial barometer does not
show any trepidation, consols even inn
proving. There is not the slightest
sign of the selling, which always
marks real clouds on the political hori-
-s,x g y.nst. H..
the continued depreciation in land.
Farms are selling and renting more
freely and at higher prices. The i'm
provement is attributed partly to the
rise in the price of wheat, and partly
10 the cheapness OF money. Capitalists
are glad even of the beggarly interest
yielded by land investments.
The New Year honor list is weak and
decidedly partisan. 1t attracts little
interest from the public OUTSIDE of the
knighting of Thomas j. Upton. the
millionaire provision merchant. whose
knightaee establishes the fact that til
ties are purchasable for the honor be-
slowed upon him. 1t was. of course,
due to his gift of f25.000 10 the Prin-
cess OF Wales Jubilee fund for feeds
ing tho outcast poor of London
DIR. Jameson, the Transvaal raider. in
an interview predicts that Cecil Rhodes
will be Premier of Cape Colony in
1S9S
The Paris police. during the course of
the week, secured another OF the organ
lied gangs Of murderers and robbers
which terrorized the suburbs of the
French Capital for months past. The
new arrests number thirty-three, and
the oldest prisoner is only q years old.
Within three months the bodies of fif-
ty-three murdered persons have been
found in small section of the River
Seine. and ii is believed most of these
murders are traceable To this gang.
There is some reason TO believe that
France and Great Britain have about
reached an agreement on the subject
of West Africa, by which the Lagos
Hinterland win be determined by pro-
longing it norhward TO the Niger. the
prssent Lagos Dahomey frontier
France would thus secure about 100
lsilouaters on the right bank of the
river end Great Britain would have
Rous.a and Nikki restored to her, and