The record-union., 1898-04-06
Ea'faur Makes a Statement in the
House of Commons
E;Iaiiv3 is the Occupation BY Foreign
Powers Of Ports IN Caina.,
Believes That Neither Russia Nor
Germany Ea5 Any Intention OF
Depr3viug Great Britain OF ANY
CO Her Treaty Rights IN the
Orient.

LONDON, April 5.-The House OF
Commons was crowded to-day with
people anxious to hear the statement
OF Mr. Balfour, Acting Secretary OF
State for Foreign Affairs, on the sub
ject Of the situation in the far East.
Mr.. BalfCur enumerated the conceS-
sions obtained by Great Britain, name
IL, that the region Yang Use kfane
should not DE alienated by any foreign
Power; that the successor of Sir Rob
ert Hart, as director of the Chinese
imperial maritime customs, is to be
an Englishman, and that access to the
inland waters is to be had by ships OF
all nations
A fourth concession, Mr.. Balfour con-
tinued, occurred only day or tow ago
namely, the opening Of three new
treaty ports, Funing, Yochau and Chir
Wang. This, according to Mr. Bal
four, was a considerable harvest fol
two months negotiations
Relative TO the German acquisition
of railroads. Mr. Balfour said thai
wherever they were constructed they
must be a benefit to British commerce
He believed neither Germany nor Rus
STA had any intention Of depriving
rights in China Germany had giver
assurances that the country occupied
by her would be open to the commerce
of the whole world The interests OF
Germany and Great Britain were
IDENTICAL. and he believed the two coun-
tries would be able to work hand il
hand.
Russia had also given assurances
but he was bound to admit that the
form of those assurances had changed
Touching upon Wei Hal Wei, Mr.
Baifour said that Russia having Sc
cured Port Arthur On the maritime ap-
proach to Picking. Great Britain haG
occupied Wei Hal Wei to balance mat
ters.
The speaker added that had Russia
confined herself TO obtaining an ice-free
commercial port as a terminus for hel
railroad, no complaint would have beer
been made, but, unfortunately. Russia
determined to obtain control of Port
Arthur. which was not and could moi
be made 4 commercial port. As soor
rs Great Britain heard of the negotia-
tons she laid her views closely before
Russia. ana expressed her sense of ths
evil they were bringing upon China.
Continuing. Baifour said: we offer
ed. if they would abstain from taking
Port Arthur, to ourselves give a CORE
spending pledge to take no port on the
Gulf Of Pc Chi Ii. But our offer was
not accepted. and so, on March Odd. we
Informed Russia that we should hold
ourselves free to take the necessary
steps to safeguard our interests and
Great Britain has since obtained a
lease of Wei-Bai-Wei on the same
terms as those by which Russia secured
Port Arthur Wei-Hai-Wei is the only
port Oh the Gulf of Pc Chi Ii which
might balance the possession of Port
Arthur While Port Arthur is strong
err, the accommodation at Wei-TIai-W Wei
is inestimably greater, and by taking
Wei-HaiWei under our protection we
prevent the Gulf of Pc Chi Ii from fall
ing under the maritime control of one
power, and thus defend our interests
Relative to the security of the future
Balfour said it could not be denied that
the indications were that China might
collapse. and with further decay frag-
ments might be snapped up by various
powers. But it would be a mistake to
allow Great Britain's policy to be gov
-,
I'VE desire to maintain the integrity Of
China so far as possible, but it must he
recollected that the future viii proba-
bly, have strange surprises in store"
Balfour also said the Government
thought Russia had pursued an unfor-
tunate course in taking Port Arthur
which, as Russia herself said in 1885
when Japan proposed to occupy it
would, in the hands of any foreign
power. constitute a menace to the cap
ital of China
In conclusion he said: The balance
of power in the Far East may be fan
different when the disintegration OF
China has occurred. The time may
come when the great powers shall say
that China shall not fall into the hand>
of any one power. and TO embark now
upon a difficult and costly enterprise in
order to ward off q remote and doubt
full danger would be political folly
Her Majesty's Government asks the
country to ind0rse this policy with
more confidence before we know that
Great Britain has the sympathy OF tbs
great commercial community through
out the world. (Cheers.)
Il believe the time may come wher
the great commercial powers Will joir
in an alliance to prevent China fall
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