The herald., 1898-01-19
AN ORIENTAL POLICY
rs ANNOUNCED ON BEHALF OF
GREAT BRITAIN
Even at the Cost of War the Chinese
Door Will Be Kept Open
to Trade


LONDON, Jan. 18.-The country gen.
orally is greatly pleased by the an
nouncement made by the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks
Beach, at Swansea, last night, in which
he re-echoed the previous declarations
of Mr.. Balfour, at Manchester, on the
Indian policy of the government, and
added that the Ministers were deter
mined, even at the cost of war, that Chi
nese commerce should not be closed to
Great Britain. This declaration is taken
as outlining the governments position,
and both the Liberal and Conservative
newspapers commend the plain speak,
ing.
The Globe this afternoon says: What
we want in China is trade. We want to
make a market for the commerce of the
whole world. Sir Michael Hicks -Beach's
announcement of the determination Of
the government is clear and resolute and
will tend to peace. 1t is pity that other
Cabinet Ministers have not spoken thus
on other occasions. When the loan is
definitely settled, Russia, France and
Germany will have to let US know not
only whether they intend to ecquiesce in
the principle we have laid down, but will
have to be definitely asked to give a
place on specific points which have been
discussed. In carrying ou the policy
promulgated, the government will have
the support of the people Of this coun-
try and also of two countries, who above
all others, are eminently concerned"
The st. James Gazette also believes
that "the firm statement tends to
peace"
The Pail Mall Gazette says: 1.-THE gov
ernment is determined that the Chinese
door shall be kept open even at the cost
of war. These are grave words, but they
would be more serious still, if they did
not represent serious intention. It Is
the power that talks Of war and then re-
coils from acting, that gets embroiled."
RUSsIA'S POLICY
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 1S.-Oriental
mail advices state that Russia is keep
ing UP her policy Of aggression in Corea.
The appointment of new Russian Min
lister to Corea was taken advantage Of
by the Cars government.
First the military power of Corea was
assumed; next the finances of Corea
were brought under it's superintendence.
Then, in addition to the coaling station
she now possesses, Russia is making
efforts to obtain another on an island
opposite F'usan.
A peninsula in front of Wonsan will
also be occupied by Russia, when she
will make it either a settlement or COAL
ing depot. 1t is also said that Rus
slams are going to be engaged shortly
as custom house officials and there is
to be a great Russo Corean bank. Fur
ther, 1t Is stated that the Russian Min
lister is employing Coreans on the Rus
sian frontier in various situations and
that the railway in a certain part of
Corea will be built by contract in con-
joint work with Russia.
A FORMAL LEASE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1S.--A cable
dispatch has just been received at the
Chinese Legation from the Tsung Ii
Yamen, Pekin, to the following effect:
A settlement of the difficulty with
Germany has been effected. Kiao Chou
Bay is to be leased, belt surrounding
the bay extending 100 Ii (about 80 miles)
to the boundary, being included in the
lease.
The German troops outside the pre-
scribed limits are to be withdrawn. Two
of the culprits charged with the murder
of missionaries are to be punished by
death, and the rest with imprisonment.
Permission will be granted for the build~
ing of churches in the cities of Tsi-Ning.
Tsao- -Chow-Fu and Chu- Y eh, and dwell
ling houses for the missionaries in the
seven places in the districts of Tsao-
Hien and Shan-Hie will be erected, for
which purpose sum of 275,000 taels will
be allowed
This amount is also to be taken as
compensation for the killing of the mis-
sionaries. The sanction of the throne
has been appended to the above.
CHINA'S ANSWER
LONDON, Jan. 1S.-A special dispatch
from Pekin says China is ready to open
the three new treaty ports and to agree
to an extension of the railway into HUI
Nan PROVINCE, but declines to agree to
the exclusion of other powers than Eng
land from the Yang Use Kiang valley.
The Shanghai correspondent of the
Daily Mail claims to have eminent au-
thority for the statement that the Rus
sian minister, Count Cassini, has in
formed the Tsung Lii Yamen that imme-
diately the German affair is settled Rus
sia will restore Port Arthur to China
and withdraw her troops without de-
manding indemnity. In return, how
ever, the correspondent says China
must employ Russians exclusively to
drill her troops and to control her Gus
toms and railways. Russia now has
three war vessels inside and four out
side Port Arthur, while she has 5000