The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-22
ENGLAND FRONTS RUSSIA.
,.p1N WITH HER AGAINST THE
CZAR,S AGGRESSION.

MI, Declaration That China Shall Ne nept
oreu even Mt the Cost or
standards Grave View OF the situntton.
spscfai cabie Dispatches to TUE Sun.
LONDON, Jan. 21.-Tho Daily Standard, In an
EDITORIAL tomorrow, will present what js pre-.
,umnbly the official Conservative view Of the
Chinese situation. 1t will say:
"a calm survey Of tho situation as IL exists
an the spot scarcely encourages tho hope that
nv the mere lapse Of time everything will ar
range itself. Russia and Great Britain are now
IN A position in which It is clear that one or
the other will have TO give way. It ought not
N be Great Britain. II our Foreign Ofice on
this occasion permits the threats OF the Cars
Charge d'Affaires to coerce the TsunG.li. Yamen
into a rejection OF our terms there will DO an end
10 our influence at the imperial court.
ut Is not the first, but It IL unquestionably
the crucial trial OF strength. st. Petersburg has
chosen the ground and thrown down the chal.
lenge. II NO retire we shall be confirming
its title to the permanent exercise of
control, in the presence OF which We
confess ourselves baffied. Tho intimidation Of
which the Tsung-li. Yamoni is the immediate OBJ
feet is q distinct warning to the Foreign Office
that the very design that Mr.. Balfour, Sir
Michael Hicks.Beach and Mr.. Chamber
lain emphatically asserted to DO mad.
misslble is not only entertained by our
rival, but Is already in process of execution. It
stands to-day acknowledged that Russia contem-
mates the use of Manchuria and the Liao-Tung
peninsula as an exclusive mercantile preserve.
Political supremacy at Pekin Is both the In
strumont and the symbol of this acquisitive
spirit, and, as in the East nothing succeeds like
success, victory now will be the %forerunner Of Q
wholesale process Of ABSORPTION.
"Obsta principiis should be Lord Salisbury's
motto. There is no lack of means for as
serting in action the principle that has
been so unequivocally expressed in the
words IF necessary at the cost of war;
This was the deliberate assurance of Sir
Michael Hicks Beach, but war will not follow IL
we are true to ourselves. Outside the sphere of
interested compacts the civilized world Is with
us in our desire to maintain freedom OF trade,
and in our pledge to resist the encroachmentu of
Individual powers.
Japan Is stated to DO acting in con-
cert with us during tho diplomatic strug-
gle with the Tsung-li.Y amen. Tho naval
strength OF tho two States interested in
maintaining inviolato the status quo is
overwhelming. II u%nhappily the question
ofmastery has to be decided by force 1t is hard
to sec how the policy Of commercial liberty and
equality can be resisted"
t6lnIOTCcm6nIB OIL Inc bTltlhn anu rT0uCn
fleets in Chinese wate1s are under orders to
sail, and to-day news came from Yokohama
that a Japanese fleet of nine ships would sail
for the Chinese coast within six days. after DO
ing inspected by the Mikado In some such
fashion as the German Emperor did with his
little expedition. The supposed destination Of
the Japanese feet Is Wei Hal Wei.
The threatening attitude OF Russia toward
China is the immediate cause Of the crisis The
competition OF Great Britain and Russia for as
tendency In Chinese affairs has reached an issue
which will either be decided peacefully within q
few DAYS or result in immediate war. There IL
high authority for saying that Japan Is acting
in the fullest concord with Great Britain In the
present Developments.
Tho following version Of the recent financial
moves of China receives general credence in city
circles. Until last Friday the negotiations with
the London and Berlin banks for the proposed
loan of f16.0 900 proceeded favorably under
the moral support of the British and German
Governments. The German Government had no
idea of guaranteeing or co-guaranteeing the
loan during these negotiations. Lord Salisbury.
however. finding on Friday that Russia WAS
the other powers at Pekin. took
matters into his own hands and offered China q
loan OF 100000 upon the terms already
stated In the dispatches to THE SUN. The ne
G~otiating banks were not consulted in the mat
ter and practically knew nothing of Lord Sails.
bury's action until Monday.
The Daily NeUs declares 1t absurd to suggest
that war isin sight because there is q hitch IN
The British policy. tho paper adds. IA easen.
italy one of defence. Great Britain IA NOT going
to war for the purpose of forcing her servieea aa
amoney lender upon n timorous borrower.
II China chooses to be intimidated. that IA her
affair. not Great Britain's. II will be time 70
talk Of war when any nttempt shall be made IN
compel China TO olose any door now onen IN
British trade.
The Chronicle saws that tho situation In anita
clear, but It is also ouite critical. Certainly
no British Minister aver nronos.d a moi.
10y more calculated To deasrve the aupnort
Of disinters.ted nation. .ns 81. .orntrn ~
ahnwn ita.lF - H..
n aI..,...- 80