The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-10
WILL SUPPORT CHINA
GREAT BRITAIN WILL NOT PERMIT
AGGREssIONS BY OTHER POWERS.
Rear Admiyal Lord Charles BeresfOrd
est of British Commerce.

LONDON, Aug "a dispatch from Pek-
ing says: THE firm attitude adopted by
Great Britain in the matter of railroad
concessions in China which is giving gen.
eral satisfaction in the British settlements.
is maintained. Sir Claude NJ. Macdonald,
the British minister to China. was present
at the meeting of the Chinese Foreign Office
officials and he reiterated Great Britain's
formal promise to support China if threat
ened by any foreign power on account of
concession granted to a British subject
Answering a question in the House of
Commons to-day, the parliamentary secre-
tary for the Foreign Office, Mr.. CurZon, said
the British minister at Peking. Sir Claude
M. Macdonald; had reported that the
Chinese government, replying to Great
Britain's message saying she would sup
port China against any power committing
an act of aggression in China because
China had granted a British subject per-
mission to aid or build railroad or other
public works, as announced in the House of
commons on Aug. l, had expressed graft
tude at the promise of support and had as
serted that no threat of aggression had
been made. Mr.. Curzon also said that Baron
Won BulOW, the German minister for foreign
a1alrS had sent memorandum to her
MaJeSty'S government, saying Germany
had never claimed exclusive privileges. in
emma, rad made no attempt to exclude
other nations from free competition in the
Shan-Tung peninsula, and had merely in
formed China that if she desired or re-
quired foreign assistance in the Shan-Tung
peninsula she should first offer the work to
Germany
Mr.. Curzon, answering another question,
SAID her MaJeSty'S government had no in
formation in regard to the reported ces-
sion of the Port of Rahita, on Asab bay,
ton. Mr.. Curzon added that he was not
aware Abyssinia had any power to cede
that port to Russia
The Picking correspondent of the Daily
Mail says: ''Endeavors are being made to
obtain from Washington an official state
ment about the Nicaraguanl canal. 1t is felt
ity of the situation would be relieved as the
canal would establish greater opportunities
for joint protection by Great Britain and
America for their interests in the far East.
declaration from Washington at the pres
ent juncture that the Nicaraguan project
would be carried out would materially
aid. British minister here.
m. Pavleff, the Russian charge daft
against the Peking- Han-Kow Railroad.
Still little doubt is expressed about the ulti-
mate result of his diplomacy. The conces-
sion represents the essence of Great Brit
aims future in China. If China yields to
Russian menaces, the prospects of the
Shan-Si syndicate are imperiled. 1t is a
mand a revocation by the Chinese govern
ment of the Shan-Si contract. Private en-
terpriSe Will avail nothing against the rep
reservations of Russia, and Great Britain
will be barred from the commercial advan-
tages which that agreement carries"
The degree of interest and appreciation
of the Importance and possibilities of the
East to which England has been aroused
is evidenced by the action of the associated
chambers of commerce in commissioning
Rear Admiral Lord Charles BeresfOrd, Con-
sentative member of Parliament for the city
of York on q special mission to China.
Loru Beresford goes to investigate the pros
poets of commerce and to report particular
ly as to the extent to which the Chinese
government will guarantee the safety or
British capital already invested and of con-
templated investments. No filter man than
this enterprising and businesslike admiral
could be selected. His mission indicates the
prevailing dstrust as to the efficacy OF Lord
Salisbury's diplomacy to conserve British
commercial interests in China. Lord Charles
Beresford intends to be absent several
months.
The Times, commenting editorially TINS
morning on Lord Beresford's mission, says:
Being man of great ability, sound sense
and good Judgment, Lord Charles Beres-
ford may be expected to take the bearings
of the general question with considerable
accuracy. There is some reason to feaf
however that he will find himself very
much IN the position of the naturalist who
started to give an account. of the snakes in
Ireland. He will have to discover what re-
gions are still left for the employment of
British capital, in face of the passive at
titude of England"
Lord Beresford's mission is undertaken
with the consent of the British Admiralty
He hopes to start about Aug. 20.