The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-04-06
GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA
BRITISH GOVERNMENTS POLICY
 OUTLINED BY BALFOUR.

Collapse-Strange Surprises in Store.
 London, April 5.-The house of com mons was crowded with people anxious to hear the statement of MT. Balfour, acting secretary of state for foreign af- fairs, on the situation in the far East. The galleries were filled and in the dis tinguished strangers gallery were many diplomats, including United States Ambassador Hay. MT. Balfour, who was loudly cheered on rising, enumerated the concessions obtainedS by Great Britain, namely, that the re- zion of Yange-T -Kiang should not be alienated by any foreign power; that director of the Chinese imperial mari- time 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, MT. Balfour contin- ued only occurred a day or two ago, namely, the opening of three new treaty ports. This, according to MT.
 
 for two months negotiations.
 Relative to the German acquisition of railways, MT. Balfour said that wher- ever they were constructed, they must be benefit to British commerce. He preferred railways and differential du- ties to no railways and no duties. He said he believed neither Germany nor Russia had any intention of depriving Great Britain of any of her treaty rights in China. Germany had given assurances that the country acquired by her will be open to the commerce of the whole world. The Interests of Ger many and Great Britain in China were identical Russia, MT. Balfour said, had also given assurances, but the form of those assurances had changed. Still, assurances had been given that no British treaty rights had been abro- gated by the recent acquisitions. MT. Balfour said that Russia, having se-H cured Port Arthur, on the maritime1 approach to Pekin, Great Britain had secured Wei -Hai-Wei to balance matt ters. MT. Balfour also said the gov-s ernment thought that had Russia con- fined herself to a commercial port as terminus for railroad there would have been no complaint, but she had obtained Port Arthur, which could not be made a. commercial port.
 Continuing, MT. Balfour said: "We3 offered, if they would abstain from taking Port Arthur, to ourselves give a pledge to take no part on the Gulf Of: Pe-Chau. But our offer was not ac- cepted, so, on March 29, we informed I,of c1,o I,r11 free to take the necessary steps to safeguard our interests and Great Brit ain has since obtained a lease of Wei-s Hai-Wei on the same terms as those by which Russia secured Port Arthur. Wei-Hai-Wei is the only port on the Gulf of Pe-Chau which might balance the possession of Port Arthur. The negotiations have already borne rich fruit in the interest of our commerce and the maintenance of our prestige at Pekin.'
 Relative to the security of the future, MT. Balfour said it could not be denied that the indications were that China might collapse and with further decay fragments might be snapped up by va- rious powers. But 1t would be mis- take to allow Great Britain's policy to be governed by remote contingencies, adding: we desire to maintain the integrity of China so far as possible. but it must be recollected that the fu- ture will probably have strange sur- priseS in store." In conclusion, MT. Balfour remarked: 'The balance of power in the far East may be far diff ferent when the disintegration of China has occurred. The time may come when the great powers may say that China must no fall into the hands of any power. Her majesty's government asks the country to endorse this policy with more confidence because we know that Great Britain has the sympathy of the great commercial community throughout the world. (Cheers). be- lieve the time may come when the great commercial powers will join in an alliance to prevent China falling prey to any exclusive influence and I am convinced that Great Britain by contin- uing her present unselfsh policy of opening to all what she secures for her- self will build up In Europe and not least in America a body of public opin- ion which will be more powerful than. any nasty action Great Britain might take at the present moment"
 Sir William Vernon Harcourt, the liberal leader in the house, replied to MT. Balfour. He spoke satirically of the policy of the "open door, and of- fered the resolution for the change of policy. He said the treaty of Tien-Tsin gave the British ships the right to use any port in China and he expressed the desire to know specifically whether that right was to be infringed, and that a military occupation of part of China might be necessary, but it could not be expedient and 1t was impossible that the occupation would be confined to the present modest limits. The liberal leader concluded by calling for infor- nation regarding the intentions of Russia, Germany and France and as to the relations between Great Britain and Japan in view of the formers lease of Wei-Hai-Wei.
 Yokohoma, April 5.-Great Britain's action in regard to Wei-Hai- Wei has caused a great sensation here and a large section of the press and public urge the government to adopt an ac- tive policy.
 Bryan to Speak in Waterbury. Waterbury, Conn, April 5.-Attorney William Kennedy of Naugatuck, 4la