The record-union., 1898-09-25
FRESH DEFEAT FOR
BRITISH POLICY,
The Recent Development in the
Chinese Empire
Comes as a DisagreeahIe Shock to the
People Of Great Britain.
Believed That Japan's Proposal to
China to Form an Offensive and
Defensive Alliance Was the Last
Straw Which Enabled the Rus
sian Party to Regain It's InHu-
ence,

| LONDON, Sept. 24.-The recent dra-
matte development of the Chinese puz-
| Zle came as a disagreeable shock to
the people of Great Britain, and their
chagrin was intensified by the fact
that they were reveling in their ap-
parent diplomatic triumph in the dis
gracesof Ii Hung Chang and the wane
OF RUSSIAN influence. Not only in Great
britain, but abroad, the DoWager EN-
press proclamation is interpreted as a
fresh defeat for British policy.
1t is generally believed that the mis-
sion of the Marquis Ito. the japanese
statesman, to China, for the purpose of
attempting to bring about an offensive
and defensive alliance between Janan
and China, was the last straw which
rushed the DOWager Empress. and en-
ab!ed the Russian party. led by Ii
Hung Chang, to regain it's influence. II
IS well known that the Chinese in
spite of their defeat in the war with
Japan, still regard the japanese as in
terror beings, and the intense hatred
of the Dowager Empress for ANYTHING
Japanese is also an acknowledged fact.
Advices received here from the Euro
pean Capitals indicate that political cir
cles anticipate the reinstatement of Ii
Hung Chang in power. and that the re-
dictionary wave in China will lead to
a closer understanding between the
| United States, Great Britain and
Japan. resulting in the combined pres
sure for reforms. The French news
papers rejoice at the prospect of Ii
Hung Chang's return to power, simply
because it would be unpleasant for
| Great Britain.
The impatience here to- learn the ont
come of the journey Of Sir Herbert
Kitchener to Fashoda is in nowise al
layed, and although the press on both
sides of the channel is calmer this
week, yet anxiety is evidenced in Great
Britain in regard to the effect of the
demand on General Kitchener, in view
of the critical political situation in that
| country. There are fears that the
French authoi ities NAV seek a foreign
diversion from their international
strife The Partisan newspapers. how
ever, adopt more compromising tone,
and instead Of declaring that the
| French flag will never be lowered at
Fashoda, they now put forward the oc-
| cupation of that place by Major
Marchand as a lever by which France
may be able to obtain advantages else
| where
An alarming situation in France
r!Vets the attention of Europe The
| weakness of NJ. Brisson the Premier.
over the affair Of Lieutenant Colonel
| Picquart, who is now in secret confine-
ment in the military prison of Cherche
Midi, placed there apparently without
| hn rl<rI r1f
and in spite of the fact that he was in
the hands of civil court, has disgusted
even his own personal friends. who call
him coward and a dolt. while the
enemies of a revision of the Drevfus
case accuse him of being a hypocrite
and of having sold himself to a Drey-
fus syndicate, an organization which is
undoubtedly existing General Zur-
| linden, who is once more Military Gov
ernor of Paris, with the cognizance of
General Chanoine, who succeeded the
latter as Minister of War. acted en-
tlrely without reference to the Pre-
mier, NJ. Brisson, who. with a, majority
c. his colleagues, was completely dumb
founded at his proceedings. The Sup
! porters of the Cabinet declare that NJ.
i Brisson in order to save the constitu-
|
and General Zurlinden and even ar
raign them for reasonable conduct.
Only bold action will secure the su-
! premacy of civil law.
One satisfactory feature of the prose
cution of Colonel Picquart is that the
War Office has engaged to give him an
open trial, which NJ. Brisson insisted
upon before he consented to the pris-
oner's transfer to the military prison
! of Cherche Midi The friends of Col
| onel Picquart declare that if he is pub
ltcly tried he will throw floods of light
upon the whole mystery.
In an interview "a former Parliamen-
tartan, who has figured in all the po-
litical events in France since 1869. pub
lished in to-day's Daily News" is
quoted as expressing opinions regarding
| the role which President Faure is
playing, confirming previous. state
ments on the same subjects. He says
that General Zurlinden enjoys the full
confidence of the French President, who
is in love with military glamour Pres
ident Faure, he adds, has but to say
the word and have France at his feet
and he further says if he does not
say this word and declares himself in
| 1aVOf OF ID revision OF the DreyfuS case,
| he will have the whole French mob in
hue and cry against him, and he will
have to go. But if, in order to oppose
a revision, he resigns the Presidency
the National Assembly or Congress for
the election of Presidents will meet at
Versailles within twenty-four hours
| and NJ. Faure will be elected by a
crushing majority of those who are
hostile to a revision. He will then
form a Ministry, and with NJ Barthou
as Premier, and with an ambitious
strong General at the head of the War
| Office, he will be able to do what he
| likes with France.
The war cloud lowering over Chile
and Argentina is being closely watched
and has caused uneasiness here The
idea of an appeal to arms is vigorously
deprecated. and. as some point out
/ the English investors will have to con-
tribute to pay the piper.
The elevation of -inister Curzon to
| the peerage, as Baron Curzon of Ked-
lesion. is generally approved. Lord
Scarsdale, his father, is one of the four
/ peers in this country who are in holy
orders, the others being the Earl OF