The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1898-09-03
Contest Between Russia and Great
Britain Seems Not Very
Far Away.
BRITISH NAVAL DEMONSTRATION
Big Fighting Squadron Now Con-
centrated at Wei-Hai-
Wei.
PORT ARTHUR BEING STRENGTHENED
Conflict Likely to BE Precipitated
by the Demands Made by
England on the Chinese
Government.

London, Aug. 29.-The Pekin corre-
spondent of the Daily Mali says:
""The situation has suddenly become
acute. The relations between the
tsung Ii yamen and Sir Claude Mac
Donald, the British minister, are
strained to the point of rupture. Sir
Claude Macdonald has intimated that
any failure by China to observe Great
Britain's wishes will be accepted as II
casus belli.
IN support of Sir Claude MacDon-
aid the feet has been concentrated at
Wei-Hai-Wei and Uankow, and all the
w%arships under 5000 tons have been
modified in the Yang Use river. The
naval demonstration is solely directed
against China, as il is semi-ofiicially
stated that the existing relations with
Russia are cordial. Lord Salisbury has
abandoned the policy of the open door,
substituting for it a policy of spheres
of influence. Diplomatic conferences
have been of constant occurrence in
the last few days. Lord Salisbury in
sists upon the recognition by the 9TH
err powers interested in China of the
boundaries of Great Britain's sphere
of influence In the same instrument
Whereby Great Britain recognizes
Russia's position in Manchuria, Russia
is required to acknowledge the para
mouncy of England in the Yang Use
valley and guarantee that our terrific
rial requirements shall be permanent
ly respected.
Great Britain is willing to drop her
protest in respect to the New Chwang
railway, but Russia is required to cam
Gel her agreement with China that the
country having the largest financial
interest should arbitrate in disputes
connected with the pckin-Hankow
railway.
1.-THE negotiations are confined to
Pekin. The British ambassador at ST.
Petersburg and Pckin are in close
communications"
a special dispatch from Shanghai
says:
violent scene are reported to have
occurred between Sir Claude MacDon-
aid, the British minister, and NJ. Paw
elotf, the Russian charge d'affires.
owing to the latter's commanding the
tsugn Ii yamen to break its agreement
with the Hong Kong bank under pain
of the ears strong displeasure. The
Chinese are inclined TO obey NJ. Paw
eloff, seeing that the British contine
themselves to verbal protests.
"The position is now worse than
ever, all the Russian ships have re-
turned to Port Arthur, while the Brit
ish vessels are assembling at Wei-llai-
Wei and Chez Foo. Extreme activity
prevails ashore at Port Arthur.
THE action of the Russians at New
Chwang indicates an intention on
their part to remain there in strong
force, whether they build the 'Tientsin
railway or not"
Salisbury Has Free Rein.
New York, Aug. 29.-The Evening
Posts London cable says:
Information of the gravcst kind is
current in circles in close touch with
official life. There is no means of con-
firming this information III official
quarters, but it is beyond all doubt
that the ministers have taken advan-
tase of their release from parliament
- S''to w IhtN u
touS series of decisions.
THE statements which reach me
are of the most positive and unhcsi-.
tating character. They are, first, that
before Lord Salisbury left for the
south of France he sought an audience
with the queen at Osborne, and plain
ly told her he could not carry on for
eign affairs in the present critical
state of the relations with Russia UNI
less she withdrew. her frequently en-
pressed veto upon the prosecution Of
diplomacy to the point of war during
her lifetime. Imperative interests of
the state Salisbury held. must pre-
vail, however painful would be even
the danger of hostilities between her
majesty and members of her family
abroad.
Lord Salisbury went further and
declared that he must resign unless
her veto was withdrawn and he was
given an absolutely free hand.
The queens answer may be judged
from the complete wolfe face Of the
ministers. They Immediately pro-
ceeded to change their entire attitude
toward Russia. They decided to aban-
don the policy. nov so obviously flu
tile, of an open door and of equal OPP
portunities III all parts of China. as
guaranteed by the treaty of Ticn Tsin.
and proceeded to adopt the policy
which Mr.. Curzon himself long ago adj
vocated in his book. Problems of the
Far East as alone feasiblc-namely,
the policy of spheres of influence.
"The ministry then proceeded to