The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-08
Demands Port Arthur and Ta-
Lien-Wan by March %.
Thirty New Torpedo Boats For
Chinese Waters.
OF CHINA
Has Begun Already, Cries Out
England,
And England Not Ready to Get
Part of the Pie.

London. March s.-AH the morning
papers comment on the menacing as
pect of affairs in the far east
The Daily Chronicle, in a strong edi-
toriaI says:
"As a rebuff to Lord Salisbury Moth
ing could be clearer and more painful.
Russia has simply begun the partition
of China. If anybody asks what Chi
ma will do, the answer is simple. There
is such thing as China. The real
questions are: What will England do
and what Japan?
IF ever Great Britain needs a strong
man it is now, and the country will
learn with dissatisfaction that again,
at moment of acute crisis, the pre-
mier's health compels him to go abroad.
Thus both the queen and the prime
minister are to be absent when their
presence is peculiarly needed
Pekin, March 8.-Russia demands the
settlement of the lease of Port Arthur
and Ta-Lien-Wan by March 26. The
Tsung-Li-Y -Yamen has given full powers
to Yang Lu, the Chinese minister at
st. Petersburg and negotiations have
been transferred there. The matter is
practically settled.
China has given Japan written un-
Much uneasiness is felt in Chinese
circles in consequence of the Russian
demands. The Russian minister of
finance, moreover, is reported to have
urged these demands peremptoriIy and
to have complained that the Chinese
loan was settled in spite of the disap-
prOval of Russia.
All kinds of spectators are f1ocking
here for the purpose of securing con-
roads and regular railroads, etc. The
| Chinese merchants are showing great
eagerness to participate in the enter
prises.
london, March 8.-Replying in the
house of commons today to Sir Ellis
Ashmead Bartlett, conservative, Mr..
Curzon, the parliamentary secretary for
| the foreign office, said the government
| could not confirm the message of the
London Times from Pekin, published
today, saying that Russia mad demand
| ed that China surrender to her all Sow
| ereign rights over Port Arthur and Ia
| Lien Wan for the same period and on
| the same conditions as in the case of
| Germany at Kiao-ChOu bay, besides be-
| manding important railroad cOnces-
sions, giving five days in which to re-
ceiVe a reply and threatening to move
! troops into Manchuria in the event Of
noncompliance with her demand. Mr..
! Curzon also said the government had
! no CONTINUATION Oh the report lIdl ILu5o-
sia had occupied Deer island. Corea.
nor could the government confirm the
| reports setting forth that Russia was
| strengthening the forts at Port Arthur.
odessa, March 6-The Russian gov
| ernment has ordered 80 new torpedo
boats to augment the Russian Pacific
| squadron at Vladivostock and Port
| Arthur. Russia also proposes to keep
| eight cruisers of the volunteer fleet
| continually in far eastern waters in
Ie-A<0 ~nR na1r IN rfnF
! the possibility of being hampered by
| Great Britain closing the Suez canal.
London, March 8.-The Standards ed
| itorial says:
| Years may pass in the execution Of
| the designs, but from the moment the
cOnvenant is signed, the partition OF
| China is begun The disguise is too thin
| to be meant to deceive.
1T is no wonder that the eyes Of the
| nation are fixed in eager expectation
upon Japan. The question remains
| whether England will resist Russia or
proceed to restore the equilibrium by
| Independent measures of her own"
| London March 8-A dispatch from
| Nagaski Japan, to the Daily Mail says
| the Corean cabinet with the exception
| of the foreign minister, Min Chong
| Mouk have resigned because Min
! granted the Deer island concession to
| Russia without the consent of the cab
| met.
| London, March S.-Ihe mouse or iOr0S
| was unusually crowded yesterday aft
| ernoon the peeress gallery was full and
| there were many members of the house
| of commons present when Lord Roberts
/ commander of the forces in Ireland,
made his expected speech in favor OF a
| forward policy on the Indian frontier
| putting forward the Russian peril and
| declaring that the policy of nOn-inter-
| ference with the frontier tribes had
| been a complete failure. The speaker
| advocated the advance of British rule
| across the mountains, and traced the
| advance of Russia, saying that if she
| once crossed the Hindoo-Koosh an at
/ tack upon India was only a matter OF
| time.