The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-04
Special and Exclusive Concession
Granted to Any Nation Will Not Be
Recognized by John Bull.
BRITAIN'S POLICY DEFINED
IN A FIRM DIPLOMATIC NOTE TO THE
GOVERNMENT OF UHINA.
Japan in Accord with Great Britain,
Statement of Her Demands.

LONDON, Jan. 3.-Great Britain has at
last declared her policy in the far Eastern
question, according to the Manchester
Guardian, a newspaper that has long been
noted for securing news in advance of the
London press. If the Guardians statement
is correct, Great Britain and Japan have
formed an alliance against Russia, Ger
many and France-the alleged territory
grabbers-aud have notified China that no
concessions must be granted those powers
which are not granted Britain and Japan.
The Manchester Guardian says: THE gov
eminent has categorically stated that Great
Britain will refuse TO recognize any special
rights granted at any Chinese port to any
particular power. Any port opened to one
power must be opened to all open to
none. If Russia has been granted the right
to winter her ships at Port Arthur, Great
Britain will enforce her rights TO the same
privilege and her ships will winter there
whether China comedies or does not con-
cede the right. If Germany obtains naval
station at Kiaochau, Great Britain insists
on having a lease of ground for naval
station at the same port and she will sup
port every other power making the same
claim The contention of the government
is that the most favored nation clause in
the British and other treaties with China
forbids any special concessions of the
ture contemplated by Germany at Kioa-
chau and prevents nations from acquiring
special benefits in which the others have
share. The government has also declared
that the same principle applies to such
transa ctions as railway and mine monop-
olies Taking her stand on the treaties,
Great Britain refuses to acknowledge such
concessions and will insist on similar rail-
way and mine rights and will use such
force to secure or defend them may be
necessary. This declaration does not apply
to cessions of territory to which the exist
ing treaties do not refer but relative to
this contingency, the dispatch of Great
Britain to China says that when 1t occurs
graver questions will arise. The government
will then consider the manner in which
British interests can best be .safe-guarded
and the form which compensation to Great
Britain for the special advantage as of
other nations must take 1t is reported that
similar declaration has been delivered to
the Chinese and other governments by
Japan"
Up to a late hour tonight the statement
of the Manchester Guardian has neither
been confirmed nor denied, and the general
belief is that whether an actual note has
been dispatched to China or not, the Guar
dams statement fairly represents British
policy.
The Shanghai correspondent of the Daily
Mail says: THE Russians tricked China into
conserving to an occupation of Port Arthur
by representing that the British fleet was
coming to capture it. They also asked the
Chinese to prohibit the English from land
Ing. The latter refused, but the English
men going ashore at Port Arthur are shad-
owed by the Russians
There is considerable activity in the de-
Tense departments. Lord Wolseley, the
colamander-in-chief, came unexpected to
London to-day from Brighton and spent sew
eral hours at the War Office.
In view of the prospect for business in the
East, the Hamburg-American line will es-
tablish a regular monthly service between
Hamburg and Penang, Singapore. Hong
Kong, Shanghai, Yokohama and Hiogo,
commencing on Jan. %:
The ST. Petersburg Novosti publishes an
article strongly urging a Russo-Japanese
alliance as the best means of guaranteeing
their mutual interests and the maintenance
of the political equilibrium. 1t is understood
this view is favored in Russian official cir
cIes in which it Is felt that such an ALI
ance would contribute to avert serious
complications in the far East.
The British war ship Powerful has ar
rived at Hong-Kong. The Powerful is a
first-class cruiser of over 14.000 tons dis
placement and $1,000 indicated horsepower,
with an estimated speed of about twenty
two knots. She carries a crew of $40 men.