The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-26
ULTIMATUM TO THHQUHEN.
Salisbury May Resign if Her
War Veto Stands.
He DESIRES A FREE HAND
I'm the Inner OHcinl Circles of Lon
don "a Report IL Current That the
British Premier Is Anxious to Call
HnIt i'm Russian Aggression
by Material Measures.

London Aug. 25-The correspondent of
the New York Evening Post today sent
the following to his paper:
Information of the gravest kind is
current this afternoon IN circles in close
touch with official life. There is no
means of confirming this information in
official quarters, for they must remain
severely silent but 1t is beyond all doubt
that the ministers have taken advantage
of their release from parliamentary
heckling to make momentous series of
decisions.
''The statements which reach me are
of the most positive and unhesitating
character. They are first, that before
Lord Salisbury left for the south of
majesty, the queen, at Osborne. and
plainly told her he could not carry on
the foreign affairs in the present criti-
cal state of the relations with Russia
unless she withdrew her frequently ex-
pressed veto upon the prosecution of
diplomacy to the point of war during
her lifetime. Imperative interests of
ever painSgl would be even the danger
or hostifties between her majesty and
the members of her family abroad.
The Resignation Possible.
LORD Salisbury went further and de-
clared that he must resign unless her
veto was withdrawn and he was given
an absolutely free hand
The queens answer may be judged
from the complete vote face of the min
istry- They Immediately proceeded to
change their entire attitude towards Rus
sia. They decided TO abandon the policy
now so obviously futile of an open door
and equal opportunities in all parts OF
China, as guaranteed by the treaty of
Tientsin and proceeded to adopt the policy
which Mr.. Curzon himself long ago ad-
vocated in his book. Problems of the Far
East alone feasible, namely, the
policy of spheres of influence.
The ministry then proceeded to make
definite proposals to Russia about ten
days ago on this basis, Russia being
given an absolutely free hand in Man
churia in return for her formal recogni-
] ton in the same instrument. of British
! paramountcy in the Yang-tse-Kiang
| Valley, that recognition being accompa-
/ MED by guarantees of its permanency.
What these guarantees are Is not
| known. out it Is over them that the hitch
has now arisen. England refuses to dc
cept a mere formal recogni.i ion, and has
finally intimated to Mouravieff. through
Sir Charles Scott, The British minister III
St. Petersburg. that a satisfactory an
swer must be forthcoming by Saturday,.
Russia Must Reply.
"'In effect this is an ultimatum to Russia
| and Mr.. Balfour's special visit to the
| queen. at Osborne, on Saturday. IS asso-
| ciated with this final step. he having
taken over the foreign office during Sails.
| burys absence-an absence which 1t was
| thought would make a vital departure in
| the British policy more easy of accom-.
plishment.
'The government has. moreover. Sc
afoot preparations for formidable de
| monstration by British fleet in Chin;
waters, if Russia fails to give the re
quired assurances by Saturday. Tn
commander-in-chief at Hong Kong ha
received contingent instructions to dis
patch to Hankow a portion of the British
fleet Moreover, H. NJ. S. Powerful
which was previously ordered to Jaw
has been detained on the China station
and the refit of H. NJ. 5. Barieur ha
been postponed.
Associated with these naval move
ments in the Far East is the unostenta
tious formation of a new squadron il
home waters, the Bristol Channel, wher
they are now assembling ostensibly Of
the invitation of the British Association