The herald., 1898-01-23
CRISIS in
THE ORIENT
May Not Result in a Resort
to Arms
CHINA WILL KEEP THE PEACE
BUT FEAR rs FELT OF ACTION BY
JAPAN
In Any Event the English Diplomats
Consider Their Position Very
satisfactory One
CHINA WILL KEEP THE PEACE
BUT FEAR Is FELT OF ACTION BY
JAPAN
Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
LONDON, Jan. 22.-(Copyright, 1881
While events are moving with somewha;
dramatic rapidity in the far east and
complications may develop a situation
fraught with momentous dangers when
the known facts and the position of af-
fairs are analyzed, there is really not
much reason at the present moment to
suppose that solution of the crisis will
be found in a resort to war.
Diplomatic circles do not fear that it
will be necessary to appeal to arms un-
less Japan breaks from her moorings.
So far as the European powers are
concerned, the diplomats are satisfied
that the Chinese will not break the peace
of the world, but they always have fear
ed that Japan will prove a firebrand.
Unless she can be restrained from i'm
petuous action, the departure of her
fleet from Yokohama today for Chinese
waters may prove to be the striking of
the match which may lead to q decided
confiag grafton.
Leaving out the possibilities of war,
the diplomatic game is most interesting.
The Marquis of Salisbury is slow in play
ing his trumps, but unless Russia and
France have something up their sleeves
it would appear that he has decided ad-
vantage, for the British premier has
forced Russia to show her hand. She no
longer conceals the fact that she regards
the whole of Manchuria and the Lao
Tung peninsula as being her exclusive
prey, but by insisting that Talien Wan
may be made treaty port the Marquis
of Salisbury has discounted the Musco-
vite designs on Port Arthur, for the lat
ter is of little strategic value without
Talien Wan. France, of course, resents
the proposal to open Nan Ming which
would clash with her exclusive interests
in Tonquin, while both Russia ant
France are deeply concerned in Great
Britain's claim to extend the Burmese
railroad into the Chinese province OF
Yum Nan. France has secured privileges
in Yum Nan which would be seriously
discommoded by the British railroad di-
verting to the north the commerce of
such rich province, while a railroad
from Rangoon to Shanghai, which would
be the natural outcome of Great Brit
aims demands, would be disastrous
competitor for the Transasiatic line
(from Samarkand to Port Arthur which
Russia is so laboriously constructing.
AS the Associated Press has indicated
throughout, there seems to be an under
standing between Germany and Great
Britain, but Germany, at the same time,
has so skillfully played her cards, alter
nately caressing St. Petersburg and
London, that the relations between both
capitals are better than for long time
past. The firm, confident tone of the
British ministerial utterances merely
notice Russia and France, emphasizing
that Great Britain does not intend to
recede from the main points of the posi-
tion she has taken up and that the cab
met ministers are merely voicing the
determination Of the country which rec
ognizes that If Great Britain gives way
now she will only have to fight the bat
tie in the future, when the completion of
the Siberian railway will render it more
difficult to count upon bloodless tri-
umph. While, therefore, the present
situation Is admittedly pregnant with
possibilities, it need not be assumed tina t
peace is endangered, and war will not
follow if Great Britain maintains the
ground she has taken up.
THE ORIENTAL POLICY
There has been general endorsement in
all parts of the country of the firm dec
laration made by the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach at
Swansea on Monday last setting forth
that the British government was de-
termined "even at the cost of war; that
the door of Chinese commerce should
not be shut out to Great Britain.
The wave of patriotim now sweeping
over the land finds an echo in every pub
lie assemblage where any allusion to
Great Britains attitude Is enthusiastic
cally applauded, while patriotic songs
at the music halls set the audiences wild
with warlike fervor.
In the meanwhile, the party leaders
are outdoing each other in following the
lead of Sir Michael Hicks Beach.
From the tone which has character
ized the oratory of the past few days one
would imagine that Great Britain was
about to take up arms against the world
The Secretary of State for the colon
les, Mr.. Jos. Chamberlain, followed the
Chancellor of the Exchequer with the
virtual announcement that Great Brit
ain was resolved to act in the Far East
independently of the concert of the
powers.
Herbert Henry Asquith (former Home
Secretary, a spokesman of the opposi-
tion, made it clear that the Liberals cor
daily indorsed the governments posi-
tion and the speech of the Commander
in Chief of the Army, Lord Wolseley a,
banquet in London on Thursday. when
he asserted that If Great Britain de-
clared war tomorrow he could have the
finest and most fully equipped army
corps in readiness at any British port
before ships could be prepared to EN-.
bark them, has had reassuring ef-
feet, while the decided Improvement In
the outlook of the Indian rebellion has
been great relief to the government
The newspaperS Of London and the