The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-12
Gloomy Forebodings Concerning
Affairs In the Orient.
TWISTING LIONS TAIL
RUSSIA, FRANCE AND BELGIUM
TURN ENGLAND DOWN.
Railway Concession Detrimental to
British Interests Will Be Ratified
By China-Threatening Comment
at St. Petersburg and Great Alarm
at London-Colossal War Possible.


Shanghai, Aug. PA dispatch from
Pekin, dated today, says that an i'm
perial edict has finally issued, sanction
ing the Belgian loan for the construc-
ton of the railway line from Pel1in to
Hankow, despite the protests of Sir
Claude Macdonald, the British min
lister.
London, Aug. 1.-THE Daily Mail
says this morning: I'VE understood
that the Franco-Belgian contract for
the construction of the Pekin- Hankow
railway has been ratified by the Tsung
Ii Yamen and actually signed
On the contrary, the Pekin CORE
spondent OF the Times, telegraphing
Wednesday, says the contract is still
unratified; that the Belgian minister
is pressing for an imperial rescript di-
recting ratification, and that England
| should ''endeavor to delay the ratifica-
ton until these Objectionable clauses in
favor of Russia are removed
In the house of commons today Mr..
A. ]. Balfour the first lord of the
treasury and government leader, ad-
mitted that the statements in the Pc
kin dispatch to the London Times were
substantially correct, and said that the
matter was engaging the serious at
tention of the government. This state
ment was received with cheers.
The correspondent of the Times ca
bled that the Tsung Ii Yamen had
given formal assent to all the condi-
lions demanded by the Russian charge
d'affaires regarding the contract for
MI,
these conditions being in direct con-
fiict with the terms of signed contracts
and designed as a blow at British con-
cessions.
WILL BE RATIFIED.
The Pekin. correspondent of the
Times says: Baron de Vinck, the Bel
gian minister, yesterday sent a dis
patch to the Tsung Lii Yamen, assert
ing that NJ. Pavloff, the Russian charge
d'affaires, and NJ. Gerard, the French
minister, had joined him in urging the
Tsung' Ii Yamen to disregard the at
tempt of the British minister, Sir
Claude Macdonald, to prevent the rat
ifcation of the Pekin-Hankow con-
tract.
1t is confidently asserted that de-
spite the British endeavor to obtain
revision of the contract, an imperial
decree will issue forthwith for its rat
ification. The unfriendly role of the
Belgian minister throughout merits the
strongest condemnation.
RUSSIAN COMMENT.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 11-Following
in the footsteps Of the Novostia, the
Novoe Vremya today eulogized the
Marquis of Salisbury for the wisdom
with which he keeps in check the Rus
sophobia outbursts of members of his
party and the prudence with which he
endeavors to obviate all pretext for
misunderstanding between Great Brit |
ain and Russia.
Continuing, the Novoe Vremya says |
it observes that unfortunately more |
than half the British public share Mr.. |
Chamberlain views
But the Russian paper cannot under |
stand why the Russophobes are ap- |
prehensive of the Russians at Port Ar !
thur"
The Novoe Vremya then remarks: |
The results of the cession to Russia of |
Port Arthur and Ta-Lien- Wan will |
not show themselves for some time to
come. A considerable period must |
elapse before these ports can serve the |
purpose for which they were intended |
by the Russian foreign policy, that of /
providing permanent outlet in the
Pacific ocean. Quite otherwise is Rus
sia's question on the Indian frontier, !
where everything has been long organ
lied for military action if some extreme
excess of ill-will upon the part of Great
Britain should drive Russia to such ac-
ton
SALISBURY ATTACKED.
London, Aug 12.-All the morning
papers, including the supporters of the |
government. attack Lord Salisbury for
weakness in dealing with the Chinese
question.
The Daily Chronicle says: What
is ito be the result nobody can say
There is room for the gloomiest fore
bodings. Does the country realize that
for want of little foresight and firm
ness. Great Britain may, ere long, be
plunged into a colossal war? Such,
without the least doubt or eXaggera-
ton. is the appalling possibility"
The Daily Mail says: 1.-The door is
closed. The proudly boosted British
lion does not exist in the Yangtse val
ley. 1t is a mistake. and looking to
what Lord Salisbury has done in Egypt.
his failure in China is inexplicable.'
The Standard says: These repeated
are becoming intolerable.'
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE.
Paris. Aug. 1.-THE papers are full
Of significant comment on the Chinese
question. The Matin says: I'm China
the greatest game in the world is be-
ing played. and French intervention
should be efficacious and decisive"
The Soir has a sensational article
headed: War Between England and
Russia Imminent"
The Journal des Debats says: Eng
and is now seeking an arrangement
With Russia. That understanding is
impossible. unless Russia remains mis- !
ress of the north and England is in
sured her influence in the Yangtse
liver. In short. the lines of the section !
ire beginning to be marked along I
vhich the disruption would occur s
whenever China falls to pieces. Clearly !
neither France, Germany nor Japan !,
Gould hold aloof from such an agree !
nent.'
The article hints that France would I
upport Russia in the event of war, and
avs in conclusion: France will be :
content with the southern provinces /
bordering on Tonquin.-' 2
~