The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-04
LION STILL ROARING
HAS NOT REITERATED FROM THE
CHARGE OF THE RUSSIAN BEAR.
Britain Had Backed Down on the
Far Eastern Question.
RUSSIA IS NOT AGGRESSIVE
AND HAS NO INTENTION OF CLOSING
ANY CHINESE PORT.
Salisbury Has Made No Demand In
Regard TO INSTRUMENTATION
Fleet TO De Strengthened.

LONDON, Feb. 3.-According to latest in
formation the press and politicians have
been too hasty in denouncing Lord Sails
bury for backing down on tho question OF
making Ta-Lien-Wan a free port. The
Marquis of Salisbury, Mr.. Curzon, the par
liamentary secretary for the Foreign Of
flee, the Russian ambassador and the Chi
nese minister each have asserted in CONVEX
sation that they had not heard of any back
down. The opening of Ta-Laen-Wan, it is
pointed out was never made u condition, in
any sine qua non sense. in connection with
the loan to China. In the preliminary nego-
tiations on that subject the opening of Ia
Lien-Wan was 'sketched in neutral tints,"
Great Britain only suggesting it as one con-
dition favoring u speedy completion Of the
loan. She never demanded it, and, there
fore, III no sense can be said to have backed
down If the desire was not persisted in.
The Ta-Iien-Wan question is however,
with other suggested conditions of che loan,
stin In process Of negotiation. The heat of
the Russian press on the subject is in no
sense shown by the Russian government in
its communications which have reached the
Foreign Office here. Though Russia has
protested, and means to continue to pro-
test in the stoutest manner against Ia
Lien-Wan being opened by British influence,
she will not carry her protest to the point
of making it a casus bell. Further, it is
by no means Russia's intention to close
China to other nations in any concessions
made to Russia by China.
The irritation in Great Britain and the
disappointment in the United States over
the so-called backing down of the Marquis
of Salisbury is, therefore, not justified.
Great Britain is acting strenuously in favor
of free ports in China. and hopes sincerely
to have the moral support of the United
States in this policy. If events should push
Great Britain from this position, with the
prospect of defeat therein. she will ask for
the support of Washington. Some of the
afternoon newspapers refer to the absence
of the Russian and German ambassadors
from the Marquis of S3iisburys regular
Wednesday reception of the diplomatic
corps as being II disquieting portent
A dispatch from Shanghai says 1.-THE
China Gazette says the British Indian, Aus
tralian and Pacific squadrons have been or
dered to be ready to reinforce the fleet in
the far East, thus giving the British adj
miral fleet capable of coping with any
combination opposing British policy In
the meanwhile" adds the China Gazette
the British claims in the Yang-Tse- Kianp.
VIII be supported by q strong squadron sta
toned at Chusan, to which place two other
war ships are route. In the event of
Russia hosting her flag over the forts at
Port Arthur the British admiral has been
ordered to hoist the English flag over Chl-
san, and the Japanese fleet Will ascend the
YaDg-Tse-Kiang SO soon as the river Uses.
About 1900 Russian artillery and cavalry
and quantities of stores and munitions have
arrived at Kirsn the capital of the Man
churian province of Kirin."
according to special dispatch from
Shanghai. published to-day, two British
war ships entered Port Arthur yesterday
and left without anchoring.
A dispatch from Kiaochau says the muir
derer of Schulz. the German sentry, who
was killed while on duty at the Tsimo. has
been executed after trial by a Chinese court.
1t is asserted at ST. Petersburg that all
though NJ. DeWitte, the minister of finance.
has ordered suspension of sales of stock
on the market as a preliminary to an issue
OF Chinese loan nothing has vet been de-
elded upon; China, il is rlImored, now re-
Iuses the loan on the ground that japan
declines to eyacuate Wei-Hai-Wei before
paid. -