Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-12
London Papers See Trouble Ahead
for England.
her CHINESE OPEN DOOR CLOSED
Russia, France and Belgium Sue
coed in evicting Her.
THE FAR EAST SITUATION

dispatch from Picking, dated today. says
that an imperial edict has finally issued
sanctioning the Belgian loan for the con-
struction of the railway from Picking TO
Han-Kau, despite the protests of Sir Claude
Macdonald. the British minister
The Picking correspondent of the London
Times says, under today's date I'm that
paper:
Baron de vinck, the Belgian minister,
Yesterday sent a dispatch TO the Tsung Ii
hamen, asserting that NJ. Pavlof. the Rus
sian charge d'affaires, and NJ Gerard, the
French minister. had joined HIM in urging
the Tsung Ii Yamen to disregard the at
tempt of the British minister, Sir Claude
Macdonald to prevent the ratilica lion of
the Picking Han-Kau contract
TT is confidently asserted that, despite
the British endeavCr to obtain a revision
OF the contract, an Imperial decree will is
sue forthwith for its Ratification. The UNI
friendly role of the Belgian minister
throughout merits the strongest condem-
nation"
All the London morning parers. including
the supporters of the government attack
Lord Salisbury for weakness in dealing
with the Chinese question.
The Daily Chronicle saws. "NNhat IS 20
be the result nobody can say There Is
room for the gioomlest forebodinSs Does
the country realize tn, Tor want OF a little
foresight and hrmness, Great Britain may
ere long be plunged Into colossal war. Such
without the least doubt Ut. exasreration is
the appalling possibility"
The Door Closed
The Daily Mail says: THE door is closed.
The proudly boasted British lion does not
exist in the Yangtse Valley. 1t is a mis-
take; and looking to what Lord Salisbury
has done in Egypt, his failure in China is
inexplicable."
The Standard says: These repeated hui
Mutations are becoming intolerabIe"
Following in the footsteps OF the No
Vostl, the Novoe Vremya of ST. Petersburg
eUicsiEes the Marquis OF Salisbury for THE
wisdom with which lie keeps in check the
Eussophobe outbursts OF members OF his
party, and the prudence with which he en-
ueaVors TO obFlate all prc;eXt for a mis-
understanding between Great Britain and
Russia"
The Novoe Vremya says it observes that
unfortunately, more than half the British
public share Mr.. Chamoeliatn's views {"
Inc Russian paper cannot understand why
the Russophobes are apprehensive OF The
Russians at Port Arthur
The Novoe Vremya aihen remarks: The
results of the cession to Russia of Port Ar
thur ana Ta-Lien- Wan VIII not show them
selves for some time 20 come. A consider
able period must elapse before these ports
can serve the purpose for which they were
intended by the Russion foreign policy that
enc ocean. Quite otherwise is Eussia's DO
sltlon on the Indian frontier, where every.
thing has been long organized for military
action If some extreme excess of fl-will
upon the part of Great Britain should drive
Russia to such action
Comment i'm Paris.
The Paris papers are full of the signifi-
canoe of the Chinese question. p
The Matin says: In China the greatest
gene in the world is being played. and
French Intervention should be cfficaciuus
and decisive"
The Soir has a sensational article headed
War Between England and Russia I'm
minent."
The Journal des Debats says: England
is now seeking an arrangement with Rus
STA. That understanding is impossible, un-
less Russia remains mistress of the north
and England is insured Ter influence on tho
Nangtse river. In short the lines Of The
section are beginning 90 be marked along
which the disruption would occur whenever
China falls to pieces. Clearly neither
France, Germany nor Japan could hold
aloof from such an agreement"
The article hints that France would sup
port Russia I'm the event of war, and says
in conclusion:
France will be content with tie SOUTH
ern provinces, bordering on ToHquin."
According to a special dispatch from
Shanghai, IL is reported there that Franco
has obtained China's promise to lease der
the Man Tale district Of Foo Chow, to.
gether with the right to repair her ware
ships in the Chinese government dockyard
at Foo Chow.