The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-01-23
European DID|0nQ|S FeQI She viii
Prove Q Fire BIQld.
HER FLEET HAY MAKE SERIOUS TROUBLE
Aside from Tint the Situation Ia Nor
Alarmins-EnEInnd Forces Russia
TO show Her Ifand-Fronch Jenl.
""sy Aroused-G Germnny Plays Hor
Cards sh,Ilrully.
Copyright, 1898. by Associated Press.)

copyright, 1898. by Associated Press.)
London, Jan. %, 1898
"h1le events are moving with some
what dramatic rapldity in the far
East and complications may any day
develop q situation fraught with
momentous dangers, when the known
lacts and the position of affairs are
analysed there is really not much rea-
son at the present moment to suppose
mat q solution Of the crisis will be
found in Il resort to war.
Ihere Is reason to believe that dip
iomatic circles do not fear that II Will
DC necessary to appeal to urms. unless
lahd this Is the dangerous feature of
the stuatiom Japan breaks from hcr
mentors. So far as the IJuronea n.
powers are concerned the diplomats
throughout are satisfied that the Chi
az Ioestion VIII not break the peace
or inc world; but they have always
feared that Japan will prove a ilre
nrand. Urless she can be restrained
from lmpetuous action, the departure
| OF her fleet from Yokohama today for
Ghinese waters, may prove to be the
5Mls 5nna5s nlateh which may lead TO
dreaded contlagration
leaving out the possibility of war.
me automatic game Is most interest
| ihg. Ihe Marquis Of Salisbury Is glow
III playing his trumps but unless Rus
| sa ana France have some up their
5iecEes s, IL would appear that he has n
uecided advantage, for the british
Prcmier has forced Russia to show hcr
mana. she no longer conceals the fact
mat she regards the whole of Man
| churpa and the Liao-Tung peninsula
ai.,I,s peins hef exclusive pray; but by In
| ,S.,hs 'nht Ia-Lien-W Wan (northeast Of
hort Arthur), be made q treaty port
the Marquis OF Salisbury has counter
ea the Muscovlte designs on Port Ar
thur Tor the latter Is of little stra
tegic value without Tn-Nen-Wun.
france, or course, resents the pro-
pnsal @ 10 open Manning, which would
CRASH with her exclusive Interests In
Tonquin, while both Russia and France
are deeply concerned In Great I3ri-
tam S claim to extend the Burmese
railroad into the Chinese province of
fun-Nan: Funce has secured privi-
leHes IN fun-Nan which would be Sc
r!ously discommoded by the British
railroad diverting to the north tba
commerce of such a rich proyince
while Il railrohd from Rangoon TO
shanghai (Which would be the nat,,-
RAJ outcome OF Great Britain's de-
mands), would he "a disastrous com
petitor OF the great tMns-Asiatic line
whlch Russia is so laboriously con-
structlng.
AS The Associated Press has indI
Gated throughout. there seems to be
an understanding between Germany
ana Great Britain, but Germany, at the
same time, has so skilfully PLAYED her
CARDS, alternately 9aressing st. Pc
iersburE and London, that the rela
lions between both capitals are better
than for a long time past. The firm
confident tone Of the British Minister.
ial utterances emphasizes that Great
isritain does not intend to recede from
the main points of the position she has
taken up. and the Cabinet Ministers
are merely voiclng the determination
OF the country, which recognizes that
II Great Britain gives way now, she
WIN only have to fight the battle in
me me iuture' when the completion Of the
siberian railroad will render 1t more
difficult to count upon bloo6Iess
triumph. While, therefore, the pres
cnt situation Is admittedly pregnant
with possibilities. it need not be as
sumed that peace Is endangered and
war Will follow If Great Britain main
tains the ground she has taken IN
verbal bluster and naval displays are
only the usual accomplishments OF
great diplomatic struggles, and are in
tended to test the enemy's nerve. In
the meanwhile 1t may be observed
that, while Great Britain Is unlikely to
budge from the broad principle which
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir
Michael Hicks-Boach enunciated. there
are glimpses OF the fact that the
negotiations at Pekin should not be
accepted as necessarily final.