The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-06
SITUATION in FAR EAST
IMPORTANT STATEMENT BY MIR.
BALFOUR IN HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Partition of the Chinese Empire Be-
gun-COncessiOns Granted Brit
ain and other Powers.

LONDON, April 5.-The House of Com
mons was crowded to-day with people anx-
ious to hear the statement of Mr.. Balfour.
acting secretary of state for foreign affairs
on the subject of the situation in the far
cessions obtained by Great Britain, namely,
that the region of the Yang-Tse-K iang
should not be alienated by any foreign
power; that the successor of Sir Robert
Hart as director of the Chinese imperial
maritime customs is to be an Enelishman
and that access to the inland waters is TO
be had by ships of all nations. fourth
concession, Mr.. Balfour continued. occurred
only day or two ago. namely. the opening
Of three new treaty ports Fu-Ning, Yo-
Chau and Chin-Wang. This, according TO
Mr. Balfour, was considerable harvest
for two months negotiations
Relative to the German acquisition of
railroads, Mr.. Balfour said that wherever
they were constructed they must be BEN
eft to British commerce. He believed
neither Germany nor Russia had any inten-
ton of depriving Great Britain of any of
her treaty rights in China. Germany had
given assurances that the country acquired
by her will be open to the commerce of the
whole world. The interests of Germany ana
Great Britain in China were identical, and
he believed the two countries would be able
to work hand in hand Russia had also
given assurance, but he was bound to adj
nit that the form of those assurances had
changed.
Touching upon wei-Hai-Wei. Mr.. Bal
four said that Russia having secured Port
Arthur. on the maritime approach to
Picking, Great Britain had required Wei
Hai-Wei to balance matters. The speaker
explained that had Russia confined herself
to obtaining an ice free commercial port
as terminus for her railroad no complaint
would have been made. But, unfortunately,
Russia determined to obtain control of Port
Arthur, which was not and could not be
made a commercial port. AS soon as Great
Britain heard of the negotiations she laid
her views clearly before Russia and ex-
pressed her sense of the evil they were
bringing upon China
Continuing, Mr.. Balfour said we Of
fered. If they would abstain from taking
Port Arthur, to ourselves give a CORE
spending pledge to take no port on the Gun
of Pe-Chi-Li. But our offer was not ac-
cepted ard SO on March % we Informed
Russia that we should hold ourselves free
to take the necessary steps to safeguard
our interests, and Great Britain has since
obtained n lease of Wel-Hai-Wei on the
terms as those By e whIeh Rqs Il the
only port on the Gulf or Pe-Chl-Ll WINCH
might balance the possession OF Port
Arthur. While Port Arthur is stronger, me
accommodation at We-Hai-Wei is inesti-
mabIy greater, and by taking Wei-Hai-Wel
under protection we prevent the CUR OF
Pe-Chi-Ii from falling under the maritime
control of one power and thus defend our
interests a., f,.,ro
Mi. Balfour said it could not be denied
tnat the indications were that China might
collapse and, with further decay fragments
might be snapped up by various iI po 80
Britain's policy to be governed by remote
contingencies. adding: I'VE desire to main
sible. but it must be recollected that the
future will probably have strange surprises
Mr. Balfour also said the government
thought Russia had pursued an unfortunate
course in taking Port Arthur, when. as
Russia herself said in 1889, When japan
proposed to occupy 1t, would In the nanus
of any foreign power constitute menace
to the capital of China:
In conclusion, he said: The balance OF
poWer in the far East may be very ulIerehI
when the disintegratlon of China mas oc-
Cured. The time may come when the sr ga!
powers will say that China shall not ran
embark on a now difficult and costly en-,
terprise in order to ward off a remote anu
doubtful danger would be pOlltlcal lo.is.
Her Maiesty's government asks the country
TO indorse this policy with more conIideLlee
because we know that Great Britain nsS
the sympathy of he great commeIcila 4i. Soii'
munity throughout the world; ttneeiS.1
believe the time may come when tne ,, e 80 80
commercial powers will join IN an allianc
TO prevent China falling prey 70 any . sA
elusive influence and | am conNlnceu ti.se
Great Britain by continuing her present ull-
selfish policy OF opening 10 all what sne
secures for herself will build IN europe
not less than in America q nodE 81 puouS
international opinion which VIII DC nlole
powerfui than any hasty action Great
britain might take at the present moment.
Sir William Vernon Harcourt me biperai
leader i'm the House, replied 10 MI. Bal
four ,,.,s.,I! os ,ho
noiic,, ~ the open door and asked the
reason for the change OF poncy; re sdla
the treaty of Tien-Tsin gave British shlps
the right to use any port IN Chlna. ara ne
exnressed the desire to know specincally
xvhether that right was to he infring-d. Con-
tinuinq the Liberal leader asked for an ex-
,Ians ton az the remarkable change of pol
~ on the part Of the government In TAX
me . lease of Wei-Hai-Wei and setting up
a rival port with rival interests. He added
tbat a military occupation of part OF China
might be necessary but 1t could not be ex-
nedient and IL was impossible to believe
that the occupation would be confined "a the
nresent modest limits The Liberal leader
concluded with calling for information re-
earding the intentions of Russia, Germany
and France and as to the relations between
Craat T2rffain and japan In View of the