The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-02
Efforts OF Britain Now Centered in
Keeping j. McLeavy Brown and sir
Robert Hart in Their Positions.
RUSSIA'S OFFER TO CHINA
WANTS RICH CONCESSIONS FOR A
LOAN OF 1OO,OOO,OOO TAELs.
Evidence Accommodating that Ger
many Intends to Keep Kiaochau
Views of Bishop Amer.


Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press.l
LONDON, Jan. 1.-The ingenuity dis
played in manufacturing news from the far
East is remarkable. Ffve-sixths of the
statements can be safely labeled guess work.
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 do not know which
foot they are standing on France is appar-
emily in the dark, while the Mikado has dis
solved the Japanese Diet in order that opin-
ions should not be expressed. In the cir
cumstances it is not strange that accurate
| information is difficult to secure.
| The known facts wholly corroborate the
statements cabled on Saturday last that
Great Britain is carefully watching the sit
uation, biding her time, and will certainly
not fail to act promptly and vigorously at
the proper moment. 1t was pointed out I'm
that dispatch that in well-informed circles
the scare in the newspapers in regard to
the far East was at least premature and
that the members of the government were
evidently sincere in disclaiming the least
alarm. This view of the case was lracti-
caly reiterated by the Daily Graphic ON Fri
day. which asserted that there was every
reason to believe the Russians would
adhere to their pledge to evacuate
Port Arthur at the end of the
winter and that, therefore, there were
nc grounds for complaint on the part OF
Great Britain. The Daily Graphic further
pointed out that the British government did
not regard the occupation of Kiaochau by
the Germans ealing for action, because
British interests were not theatened. Both
the Foreign Office and the Admiralty, ac-
cording to the Daily Graphic, We're agreed
on this point.
Evidently apart from the question of the
Chinese loan, the Corean question is more
interesting for Great Britain at the present
moment than the question OF Port Arthur
and Kiaochau, principally because the Mar
quis of Salisbury sees in the attempt TO
GUST j. McLeavy Brown, the British super
intendent of Corean customs 81 more serious
scheme to overturn Sir Robert Hart the
British director of the Chinese imperial mar
itime customs, which has apparently been
nipped in the bud. The Cabinets existence
would be short if it permittcd RUSSIA 10
coerce the Tsung-Li-Yamen (Chinese For
eign Office into dismissing the British head
of the Chinese customs. 1t is not known
yet whether the British government will ap-
prove of the arrangement arrived at, accord
ing to a cable dispatch from Picking, by
which Mr.. McLeavy Brown and NJ. Alexieff,
the Russian agent in Corea, will work the
Corean customs together. The British min
listers appear to be somewhat dstrustful,
so the war ships Of Great Britain, which
are at present off Chemulpo, the port of
Seoul, in order to give moral support TO Mr..
Brown, will remain there for the present
At present there is keen interest in COM
mercial circles over the outcome OF the ef-
forts of Russia to secure Chinese loan on
the onerous terms announced by the Picking
correspondent of the Times, who said that
the Chinese government refused to place
the likin Qnternal revenues) under foreign
control as security for the loan proposed
by the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, and
asserted that unless the loan was procura-
BILE without this condition arrangements
would forthwith be made for a Russian
guaranteed 4-per-cent- loan of 10O00O0O0
taels, to be issued at SO net. The security
for this loan would be the land tax, which
would remain under Chinese administration,
and China in return would give Russia
monopoly Of the railroads and mines north
of the great wall, open port a terminus
of the Transsiberian Railroad, and would
agree that a Russian should succeed Sir
Robert Hart as director of the Chinese I'M
per1al maritime customs The interest is
increased by the equally strenuous endeav-
ors of the British in China to prevent Rus
sia from obtaining the loan and the rich
concessions which it seems go with it. 1t
will see reason to recede from its previous
refusal to guarantee China financial sup
port although offered territorial conces-
sions, apparently showing that Great Brit
aims policy is not territorial aggrandtze-
ment. but distinctly commercial.
A diplomat talking over the alleged de-
sire of Germany to arrive at an understand
ing with Great Britain on the far Eastern
question, explained that the change might
be due to Germanys dissatisfaction with
her allies. Her faith in the Italian army
has been shaken by the defeats in Erythrea
"a fba rol1 af he 44aff ffr4a
government of Austria has made the eff
cheney of that empire in case of war doubt
full. In the meanwhile" the diplomat con-
tinues, Russia end France are allied, and
Emperor William is anxious to secure new
friends. Therefore, foreseeing the probable
ity of an understanding between Great Brit
ain and Japan, Emperor William is deter
mined to array himself on their side. Hence
his seizure of port already hypothecated
to Russia, thereby proclaimng rivalry with
Russia and friendship with Great Britain.
1t is by no means clear that British in
terestS are seriously threatened at the pres
ent moment and she can probably well af-
ford to await the spring, when, unless the
normal conditions are resumed, Great Brit
ain VIII undoubtedly take the steps neceS-
sary to protect her interests and re-estab-
lish the balance of power.
The Spectator publishes an interesting ar
ticle on Japan's policy in which the writer
regards the Marquis Ito's return 10 power
and Japan's offer to assist the officers at
her proposal to consent to postponement or
the payment of the war indemnity as possi-
bly, foreShadoWing China-Japanese ALI
ance.
The financial barometer does not show
any trepidation, consols even improving.
There Is not the slightest sign of the SELL
ing which always marks real clouds on the
political horizon and there are signs of re-
action in the long-continued depreciation IN
land. Farms are selling and renting more
freely and at higher prices. The improve
ment is attributed partly to the rise in the
price of wheat and partly TO the cheap
nessfof money Capitalists are glad even OF
the beggarly interest yielded by land invest
ments.
The Admiralty to-day issued an official
denial of the report that three of the Em-
press steamers have been reuuisitioned
by the Admiralty and also officially denied
the statement that the naval reserve Of the
China station had been called out.
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