The herald., 1898-09-18

gathering The most optimistic student Of
events in the far East admits that sooner
or later Russia and Great Britain must hight
over the Chinese question. The latest So
called triumph of Russian diplomacy, by
which British moves were checked and
China apparently made to flop from her
Friendly attitude to Great Britain into the
arms of the enemy, Russia, has eXasper-
ated the British so much, that as one ex-
presses it, much more and the guns VIII
go off of their own accord
In the whirl Of diplomatic strife in the
Orient. where the politician who wins a
point for the nation he serves finds on the
day following that a rival statesman has
secured the ear Of the unstable MonGol'an
and reversed the move. Great Britain mas
lust met with defeat in one Of her pc: pre-
Jets In pursuance Of the "open door
fight, a struggle for the removal Of barriers
to free trade in The vast market OF CHINA in
which Great Britain has been battling for
American interests as well as her own, an
agreement was made with the Pekin gov
ernment whereby it was understood that
British influence should dominate the
Yang-tse-Kiang valley, and that this vast
area should be opened for all time to the
merchants Of the world.
So important was this concession to Brit
ish and American commercial interests
that when Lord Salisbury came out pub
l;cly with the assurance that nothing would
be allowed 10 interfere with the carrying
out of the contract that gave to the British
supremacy in one portion Of China. his
former vacillatng and !ncomprehens!b s!ble
policy was overlooked. and the day of un-
welding firmness welcomed. Ii seems that
this rejoicing was premature. for ii is ad-
mitted by British statesmen that Russia
ordered China to break her agreement with
Queen Victoria's government. and that In
stead of refusing. in dread Of the Hons
wrath. she allowed herself to be bought over
body and soul by the Russian bear.
To go back a little. IN order that the sit
nation may be understood by thoss to whom
events in the far East are unfamiliar, the
direct point at issue is q railroad running
from Tiensin northward, and intended 10
reach Newchang. city that is built on the
Liau Tung peninsula, where are situated
the towns and harbors Of Port Arthur and
Talienwan, which were leased by the Chi
nese to Russia. The capital for the con-
struction of this railroad was to have been
furnished by the Hong Kong and Shanghai
bank, British organization, and the money
advanced was to have been secured by q
mortgage on the property.
The action that has just caused so much
CONSERVATION was the refusal Of the Tsuns
u-Yamen to allow this deal to be made,
which refusal, Il is known, was directly
prompted by the Russian government. The
Chinese method Of breaking the agreement
with the British was to refuse to sanction
the granting Of the mortgage; Of course.
without its money being secured the Hore
Kong and Shanghai banks could not make
;he required advence, and 50 the whole plan
was wrecked.
This is not the wors.. Some excuse might
have been found for the Russian govern
ment's successful undoing of British plars
to build a railroad to Newchwang, which
would be a menace to important stra tegic
points owned by Russia but the fact that
the railroad is to be completed under Rus
sian influences, and that the Chinese have
broken an agreement with Britain only to
make the same agreement with Britain's
great rival and avowed enemy Is what
caused red-hot wave of Indignation 10
sweep through the British empire. 1t is
admitted everywhere that a crisis is i'm
minent.
The only excuse that can be found for
this last humiliation being allowed TO pass
in silence is that Queen Victoria and not
Lord Salisbury Is responsible. 1t is stated
that the aged queen is unalterably opposed
to having the closing years of her reign
Il 1,-e ,l.-I IN- he. Rri
ish, however, much as they reverence Their
queen, the empire is first, and no sentiment
tai notions will stand in The way Of a dec
laration of war unless N some manner, not
at present possible to foresee, the atmos-
phere in the Orient clears.
What would be the result of a war be
tween Russia and Great Britain? This is
the question that is being discussed wher-
ever the queens subjects gather. Whether
or not the belief is founded on u poor basis.
it IS certain that the people of this country
have a deep-rooted conviction that when
the clash comes Americans will be found
side by side with Britons in the eastern
struggle, 1t is argued that the interes s
Of Great Britain and the Unitel States in
the Orient are IDENTICAL When Britons
fight for the "Open door policy they tigh,
for it as much on Americas ac-
count as their own. Furthermore, 1t Is
argued British sympathy Was 50 strongly
and sincerely shown in America war wi, 4
Spain that the sympathy Of America with
Great Britain IN her coming figh; with
Russia is bound to he spontaneous and
earnest As to whether on not it viii ex-
tend 10 the United States troops and ships
fighting side by side with hose of Grcat
Britain opinions are divided. Some argue
that America has Just had one war on her
hands and has had enough fighting for a
long time TO come. Others Geducc the very
opposite from this argument saying tina,
the Americas have tasted Of The fierce
JOY Of battle and are eager to try theii
victorious ships and soldier. on other foe.
to freedom
On the continent, where France is expect
ed to ally herself with Russia in the fgn
with Britain. the prospect of America aid.
ing with the latter is regarded with con.
siderable uneasiness. il is realized tha
against Great Britain alone. with the posi-
bic alliance Of Japan, Russia and France
would have heir hands full Against {
combination that includes the Unite,
States and Great Britain The hopelessnes.
OF a fight by Russia and France is too con,
yincing.
Cooler heads among the British diplo
mats feel assured that Russia has TO In
ten.ion of allowing herself to be draw,
into a conflict with Great Britain. On,
prominent statesman sums up the SITUATE
4t,f-