The record-union., 1898-01-23
There Appears Really No Present Cause tor
a Resort to War.
British Vessels at Port Arthur Re
ceive Orders TO Leave There
without De1ay-Believed That
the Withdrawal is Due to the
Irritation at Their Presence
and the Strong Representations
of the Russian Government on
the Subject.


events are moving with somewhat dra-
matte rapfdity in the Far East, and
complications may any day develop a
situation fraught with momentous dam
gers, when the known facts and the po-
sition of affairs are analyzed, there is
really not much reason at the present
moment to suppose that solution of
the crisis will be found in a resort to
war. Diplomatic circles do not fear
that it will be necessary to appeal to
arms, unless Japan breaks from her
moorings.
So far as the European Powers are
concerned, they are satisfied that
the Chinese Government will not
always have feared that Japan will
prove firebrand. Unless she can be
restrained from impetuous action, the
departure Of her fleet from Yokohama
to-day for Chinese waters may prove to
be the striking of the match which may
lead to a decided con1agration.
Leaving out the possibilities of war,
the diplomatic game is most interest
ing The Marquis of Salisbury is slow
in playing his trumps, but unless Rus
sia and France have something up
their sleeves, it would appear that he
has a decided advantage, for the Brit
ish Premier has forced Russia to show
her hand She no longer conceals the
fact that she regards the whole of
Manchuria and the Lao Tung PENN
sula as being her exclusive prey, but
by insisting that Talien Wan be made
a treaty port, the Marquis Of Sails
bury has countered the Muscovite de-
signs on Port Arthur, for the latter is
of little strategic value without Ia
lien Wan.
France. of course, resents the pro-
posal to open Nan Ming, which would
clash with her exclusive interests in
Tonquin. while both Russia and France
are deeply concerned in Great Britain s
claim to extend the Burmese Railroad
into the Chinese province of Yum Nan.
France has secured privileges in Yum
Nan which would be seriously discom-
noded by the British railroad diverting
to the north the commerce of such a
rich province, while a railroad from
Rangoon to Shanghai, which would be
the natural outcome of Great Brit
aims demands, would be a disastrous
competitor for the trans-Asiatic line
Cfrom Samarkand to Port Arthur,
which Russia is so laboriously con-
structing.
As the Associated Press has indi-
Gated throughout, there seems to be an
understanding between Germany and
Great Britain, but Germany, at the
same time has so skilfully played her
cards, alternately caressing ST. Peters
burg and London, that the relations be-
tween both Capitals are better than
for a long time past
The firm, confident tone Of the Brit
ish Ministerial utterances merely notice
Russia and France. emphazing the fact
that Great Britain does not intend to
recede from the main points of the
position she has taken up, and that
the Cabinet Ministers are merely voic-
ing the determination of the country,
which recognizes that if Great Britain
gives way now she viii only have to
fight the battle in the future, when the
completion of the Siberian Railway will
render it more difficult to count upon
a bloodless triumph.
While, therefore, the present situation
is admittedly pregnant with possibili-
ties, it need not be assumed that peace
IS endangered and war will not follow
II Great Britain maintains the ground
she has taken up.
ARTHUR
ST. PETERSBURG, jan % A
semi official communication purportine
to emanate from London says that tbs
British vessels at Port Arthur have
been ordered TO leave there without de-
lay
LONDON. Jan. 22-Regarding the
semi-oficial statement made public il
st. Petersburg to-day the semi -officia
note was published in London this
evening. The British vessels which re
Gently visited Port Arthur merely
touched there in the course of their or
dinary cruises, and would naturally
leave after short stay. The question
of calling and departure is one at the
discretion of the British Admiral o.
the station.
In spite of the statement of the For
eign Office, there is reason to believe
that the withdrawal Of the British war
ships from Port Arthur is due to tht
irritation at their presence there, anc
TO the strong representations of the
Russian Government on the subject.
Next week there win be combined
coal operations at Portsmouth, witt
the view Of testing the facilities fol
coalng fleet IN case Of an emergency
a special dispatch from Berlin says
In view of the dispatch of a japanese
fleet to Chinese waters. the "Neus'
Nachrichten" demands that Germany
Immediately send two torpedo boats tC
Kiaochau Bay.