The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-04

ers regarding China. To me they appear
as ominous as they doubtless do to others
My only object, as will appear later on,
is not so much to minimize the danger as
to draw attention to certain considerations
which will enable It to be met successfully
should it ever come.
Mysterious Russian Bear.
There is an element of mystery about
Russia's recent course in China. So far as
we know officially Russia has obtained no
cession of territory. Her officials have de-
MED the story of a secret treaty, and MAIN
tain that the only object of the Cassni
convention was the grant of railway con-
cession from a certain point on the Amoor
through Manchuria to Vladivostock, con-
Meeting with the Siberian line and shorten
ing it several hundred miles. This railway
was to be connected with another through
Manchuria TO some seaboard point, pre-
sumably on the Gulf of Pechl. This lat
ter line was TO be under joint Russian and
Chinese control Subsequently, apparently
as a set-on to Germany's seizure of Klao-
Chow, Russia obtained control of Talien-
Wan and Port Arthur. Here a curious
question arises: Was Russia aware of Ger
manys intention to seize Kiao-Chow be-
fore 1t occurred? The general belief Is that
she was but, on the other hand, 1t has
been stated on the highest authority that
Germany's action was as much of a sur
prise to Russia as 1t was to every one else.
The fact is important, If 1t is a fact, be-
cause ID marks a very definite separation
between interests which the world hitherto
supposed were, II not Identical, at any rate
harmonious.
The OK and the Bull.
Another curious circumstance is the fol-
lowing Only two years after Germany and
Russia, in company with France had
forced Japan to re-cede the Liao-Tung pen
insula to China, on the ground that 1t was
not right for a foreign power to occupy
territory controlling the approaches to
Pekin and Korea, one of them had Kiao-
Chow and the other Port Arthur, the most
important strategic points as regards the
control of those approaches. This win serve
very well as the diplomatic version of the
fable of the OK and the bull
The position of Russia in Talien-Wan
and Port Arthur is peculiar. The under
standing Is that the territory has not been
coded 20 her absolutely, but merely the
usufruct for a term of years. That leaves
Chinese ownership intact, and, coincident-
", the extra territorial rights which for
eign nations have under their treaties with
China.
How Russia AbsOrbs Territory.
To the minds Of many intelligent observ-
ers the problem of Russlas designs pre-
sents the most serious feature of the pres.
ent situation i'm China Manchuria Is uni
versally conceded to be hers; although, as
already pointed out, 1t is not actually
known whether or not she has received the
cession of one foot of territory. NeVerthe-
less, the general impression remains that
she Is only bidng her time and that she
ir{r Of
after another until she has 1t all, or all
save what she comedies to her ally, France
on the south and something, possibly, tc
her other ally, Germany. This forecast is
accurate in one respect, that is, If we
can Judge the future by the past, that is
10 say in so far as ii represents Russia 6
advances as probably being slow and grad
ual. That has always been her mode OF
progression In her acquisition of territory
in Asia She moves toward her chosen goa
deliberately, not suddenly or violently, abb
staining from arousing animosities among
the tribes and peoples whom she brings un-
der her sway, and being careful even tc
respect their foibles and prejudices. 1t is
true that her territorial acquisitions hith-
erto have consisted largely of vast tracts
of country sparsely inhabited as a rule
and IT may be that she will change hel
methods as she approaches the densely an
habited regions of populous China, but, II
the past is any criterion of the future, nc
immediate act of aggression on her par
toward China is probable. Or, to put r
| upon even surer ground. no effective act o.
aggression is possibly just at present, fol-
| Russia is not ready, and cannot be pre-
pared 10 begin this onward march of alb
! sorpton, admitting that she contemplate:
it, untn the Siberian and the Manchuriar
railways are completed. and that will no
be for some years to come.
In the meantime it is only right and Jus
that we should credit her assurances tina
| she has no ultimate designs against the III
tegrity of China in what she has already
done. and no Interior object beyond the le
ultimate development of her territories
| Then she, on her part. can have no right t.
/ complain il other nations, having as valiC
an interest as herself in the commercial
and Industrial progress of China, do wha
they can to safeguard their interests.
One solution of Chinese Problem.
There Is one solution of this question
which would be as advantageous to Chi
ma as il would be to every power having
commercial relations with her, and tina
would be the opening of the whole EN-
pire, without restrictions and under prop
or conditions. TO foreign trade and resi-
dence. There would be difficulties regard
| ing the Sgc VI NoAAohAdAf vi NAAla AtA
ritorial. jurisdiction, but they are not in
superable. Unfortunately, It Is too much
especially since the recent palace revolu
ton at Pekin, to expect this concession
from Chinese conservatism, even though
Ii offers one of the strongest safeguard
which, under present circumstances Chi
ma could possibly obtain. But. happily
palace revolutions. even in China, canno
continue indefinitely the obstacles to rea
sonable and sensible progress. China 4
coming closer and closer 10 the partinl
of the ways when the dormant forces o
progress must arouse themselves. perhap
through the sense OF impending DANCE
from without the empire. perhaps from
the hopelessness OF existing condition.
within. The awakening may be TO disas
ter and ruin, but It may be, let US hope
20 national regeneration.