New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-06
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA IN CHINA.

Our London DISPATCHES this morning report
vreat unea siness IN that capital over the reln-
t;ons between Grent Britain and Russia. which
are said 10 be seriously strained There nave
been such rumors before, in plenty. Inc pres
emf wears n more than ordinarily serious as
nact nartly because of the disturbance Of the
stock market which is one Of the surest IN
d,cators of the state Of International affnirs.
and partly because Of the known facts or me
last few weeks These latter may now he re-
called In order They will he found 10 throw
some significant light upon the present situa-
ton.
Last month II was announced that the Russo
Chinese Bank had arranged 10 lend money 20
and thus control the first section OF the rail-
road which Is to he built through the centre OF
the Yang-Tse valley. region within the BTU
ish "sphere of influence. and that the seconn
section was to he similarly financed by BEL
gan French syndicate in the interest or Russia.
That was naturally most annoying to Great
Britain. but worse was TO come. :he Chlncs'
Government applied to the Hong Kong aio
Shanghai Bank. a British concern, Cor loan
on the new railroad to New-Chwang In the Rus-
sian sphere of influence" To that Russia IN
stantly objected. and demanded from me
Tsung -Yamon n written assurance mat no
such loan should be made. That drew the issue
prettv sharply. Russia claimed the right to
enter the British sphere. but refused 10 let
British capital enter the Russian sphere"
The next move was made by Great Britain.
Sir Claude Macdonald. the Ambassador AZ
Picking Informed the Tsung-li-ininen thar II
II should grant to British subject conces-
sion to build or operate railroad anywhere III
China and any other Power objected and com
mitted an act Of aggression upon CHINA on 'hh'
account. Great Britain would give TO China her
fullest support. presumably with force anu
arms. against that other Power That was
equivalent 10 saving 10 China that n she would
disregard Russa's protest and menaces, Anu
make the New-Chwang loan. Great Britain
would support her in so doing. even 10
the extent Of a war with Russia. Lord
Salisbury announced to Parliament on Aug
ust that this assurance had been maze
70 China and added: I'VE are willing to
repeat II. and to stake all upon It, TN
that very day IT was announced that Nus
sin had made her answer to the challenge
ut Picking That Is to say. the Empress DOW
accr had on August I. practically d"posed the
Emperor, and assumed his authority herself
something that extraordinary woman Is quite
capable of dong-and had placed IL Hung
Chang in supreme authority over The Isung-
u-Yamen. That was understood 10 be a 'hOve
entirely in tho Russian interest. and 1t was in
timated that II would he followed by demand
from IL for tho recall of Sir Claude Macdonald
as no longer persona grata to the Pck'ng
Court-that Is TO say, to Russia
What the British reply was to this Is not
disclosed But the day after the statement by
Lord Salisbury in Parliament and the announce
ment of the coup d'etat at Picking, the Princess
of Wales left London suddenly. unexpectedly
and somewhat mysterously. for copenhagen
II was given out that her aged mother was III.
but that was known TO he untrue. 1t was
also said that she had quarrelled with The
Prince an incredible story under existing cir
cumstances There are now those who believe.
far more plausibly that her visit has something
TO do with Russian relations. Her sister IS
the Cars mother n considerable power behind
the throne in Russia And her mother. the
venerable Danish Queen. Is one Of the clevercst
diplomats and most potent peacemakers In the
world More than once before this the pencc
Of Europe has been preserved by family
council at Copenhage and 1t il entirely within
the bounds of reason 10 suppose that an At
tempt to do so again Is now being made There
is no use In getting panicky over the matter.
The chances are that the peace will be kept. az
it has been In several more serious crises
delicate negotiations are in progress. upon the
success Of which lncalculablc interests depend.
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