The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-12

London, Aug. lin the house of
commons today A. J. Balfour, the first
lord of the treasury and government
leader, admitted that the facts in the
Pekin despatch to the London Times
today were substantially as therein set
forth.
The correspondent of the Times ca
bled that the Tsung- Yamen had
given formal assent to all the condi-
tions imposed by the Russian Charge
d'Affaires, regarding the contract for
the Niu-Chang railroad extension loan,
those conditions being in direct con-
flict with the terms of the signed con-
tract and designed to block the COM
pletion OF the contract. the whole
movement being designed as a blow
at British concessions.
After making the admission referred
TO today, Mr.. Balfour added that the
matter was engaging the serious at
tention of the government" This state
ment was received with cheers.
A despatch received here today from
Gibraltar says the departure from that
place of the British military squadron,
which was fixed for today, has been
countermanded and the squadron has
been ordered to remain at Gibraltar
while awaiting further orders.
1t is not known whether this change
in the admiralty's plans has any con-
nection with the situation in the Far
East.
STRAINED RELATIONS.
Vancouver. p. c., Aug 1o.-Mail ad-
vices from Pekin show how strained
are the relations between England and
Russia. 1t would appear that China
leans toward England. A Pekin COR
respondent writes that the high offic-
ials of the Chinese Imperial govern
ment, with but two conspicuous excep-
tions, have had their eyes opened at
last to the false friendship of Russia
and that the gratitude of China for the
aid in recovering the Lao Tung PEN
insula has been misplaced They have
also begun to perceive the disinterest-
ed help of Great Britain.
The North China Daily News says:
at is perfectly true that Hong Kong
and Shanghai banking corporations
having arranged loan to the Imperia
Chinese railways for the construction
of the intended line from Shan Haik-
uan to New Chwang, the Russian
charge d'affaires sent to the Tsung-li-
Yamen formal written protest against
it. Does Lord Salisbury propose to sit
down quietly and allow the Russian
charge d'affaires to annul the contract
between an English bank and the
Chinese government"
Pekin syndicate represented by
Chevalier LuZzati scored again when
the Tsung- -li-Yamen signed a second
contract with them, that time giving
them control of the mining privileges
and the necessary railroad and water
outlet to navigable rivers in three
northern prefectures of Henan.
Pritchard Morgan NJ. p, has left for
Japan with the intention of returning
TO again press his scheme for a gov
ernment bureau of mining. While such
a scheme might be beneficial to the
government and incidentally also to
Morgan, there is not the slightest pros
-pect of success. Even if the Chinese
were willing, and they are not, still
Russia would never consent to allow
another service similar to the customs
service to be inaugurated in China with
an English head and English staff.
1t is said that the Belgian loan con-
tract which was signed by Railway
Director Shenga was accepted at 500
with annual interest at the rate of 6
per cent. The first instalment is to be
il4,O0O to be used in building a rail-
way between Hankow and Nsinyang.
While the loan is to amount to ga
100000. the contract provides that all
the materials required shall be home
made. failing in which they are to be
purchased from a Belgian syndicate
Should the syndicate be unable to pro-
vide material not procurable In China,
1t is to be procured by public tender.
The syndicate is declared to be Bel
glan only in name, being composed OF
Russian and French capitalists.