The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-02
ENGLAND AND THE FAR EAST.
SITUATION NOT YET REGARDED BY
LONDON AS ALARMING.

Foreign Officers ut All the Capitals
Dumb and Inside News Hard to
Get-Russian and German Occupa-
tions Not Looked Upon as FuTnish-
ing Ground for British Interfer-
ence-The Removal of the Customs
officer at Seoul of Greater Interest
to England.
Copyrighted, $685. by the Associated Press.
London, Jan. 1.-The ingenuity displayed
in manufacturing news from the far east
is remarkable. Five-sixths of the state
ments can be safely labelled 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 apparently in the dark while the
mikado has dissolved the Japanese diet
in order that opinions should not be ex-
pressed. In the circumstances it is not
strange that accurate information is diff
hcult to secure.
The known facts wholly corroborate the
statements cabled 10 the Associated Press
on Saturday last that Great Britain is
carefully watching the situation biding
her time, and will certainly not fail to act
promptly and vigorously at the proper mo-
ment. 1t was pointed out in that dispatch
that in well informed circles, the
scare in the newspapers in regard to the
far cast was at least premature and that
the members of the government were evil
dently sincere in disclaimng the least
alarm.
This view of the case was practically
reiterated by the Daily Graphic on Fri
day, which asserted that there was every
reason to believe the Russians would ad-
here to their pledge to evacuate Port Ar
thur at the end of the winter and that,
therefore, there We're no grounds for COM
plant on the part of Great Britain. The
Daily Graphic further pointed out that the
British government did not regard the
occupation of Kiao Chou by the Germans
as calling for action, because British in
tereSts were not threatened. Both the
foreign office and the admiralty, according
10 the Daily Graphic, were agreed on this
point.
Evidently apart from the question of the
Chinese loan, the Korean question is more
interesting for Great Britain at the pres
ent moment, than the questions of the oc-
cupation OF Port Arthur and Kiao Chou,
principally because the Marquis of Sails
bury sees in the attempt to oust J. Nc
LeaVy Brown, the British superintendent
soEKorean customs. a more serious scheme
te overturn Sir Robert Hart the British
director of the Chinese imperial maritime
customs. The cabinets existence will be
short if it allows Russia % coerce the
Tsung Ii Yamen, Ghe Chinese foreign
office into dismissing the British head of
dhe Chinese customs. 1t is not known vet
whether the British will
prove of the arrangement arrived at ac-
cording to Il cable dispatch from Pekin
by which Mr.. McLeavy Brown and NJ
AleNleH, the Russian agent in Korea, will
work the Korean customs together The
Brlush minister appears somewhat dis
trusuul, so the British squadron is off the
port OF Chemuipo, the port of Seoul, in or
DER to give more support to Mr.. Brown.
Inc Spectator prints an interesting arG-
Gle upon Japan's policy in which the writer
regards the Marquis Itos return to power
ana Japan's offer to assist the officers at
Pekin in drilling the Chinese army and
her proposal TO consent to a postponement
OF the payment of the war indemnity as
possibly foreshadowing a Chino-Japanese
alliance
The financial barometer does not show
any trepidaton, consuls, even, improving
Ihere is not the slightest indication of the
ssIlng which always marks war clouds on
the political horizon.
sire of Germany to arrive at ain under
standing with Great Britain on the far
eastern question explains that the change
might be due 10 Germanys dissatisfaction
with her allies Her faith in the Italian
army has been shaken by the defeats in
Arythrea, and the collapse of the consti-
LutlonaI government of Austria has made
the efficiency of that empire in case Of
war, doubtful.
In the meantime, the diplomat contin-
ued' Russia and France are allied, and
emperor VILLAIN is anxious to secure new
friends. Therefore, foreseeing the proba-
plhty of an underst tanding between Great
britain and Japan, Emperor William is
determined to ally himself on either side
frances seizure of a port already hy-
nothecated to Russia, thereby proclaiming
rivalry with Russia and friendship with
Great Britain, clearly means that British
interests are not seriously threatened at
present, and while she can well afford to
await until spring, unless the normal con-
ditions are resumed, Great Britain will
undoubtedly take the steps necessary 10
protect her interests and establish the bal
ance Of power"
The Paris police during the week have
arrested another of the gangs of organized
thieves and murderers which terrorized
me suburbs OF the French capital for
months. The new arrests number thirty
three and the Oldest prisoner is only 2l
Years of age Within three months the
bodies of ifty-three murdered persons have
been found in small section of the river
Seine and 1t is believed that most of the
murderers are traceable to this gang.
The New Year honor list is weak ana
decidedly partisan IL attracts little In
lerest from the public outside of the
knighting of Thomas J. Lepting, the mill
honaire provision merchant, whose knight,
age establishes the fact that titles are
purchasable for The honor bestowed upon
MIN was, of course due to his gift of
10000 to the Princess of Wales jubilee
lund for feeding the outcast poor of Lon
don.