New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-20

tended Il had fairly won in battle. Russia, with
the diplomatic backing Of Germany and France,
interfered in behalf of His Celestial Majesty.
England and other Powers-at least, the public
opinion OF these POwers-protested against this
interference. but Russia ignored protests, not
placing mere talk above the promise Of solid
gain She, further. helped China to settle the
money indemnity imposed by Japan And in
these ways the Cars representative at Picking
became an object OF gratitude TO the Tsung-li-
Yamen. who began to inquire Of Him what they
could do for him and his august master
The answer 10 this courteous inquiry was In
ferred in 1896. when it began 10 be said that
secret treaty had been concluded between Rus
STA and China. Later on the secret OF 1t was
partly revealed, Russia announcing that the
Government at Picking had conceded TO that or
St Petersburg the right to construct and oper-
rate, upon certain easy conditions, railroad
through Manchuria connecting the Trans Sibe
rian railroad with the Russian port OF Vladi-
vostock. on the Japan Sea. What else the treaty
stipulated to Russias advantage was not known
but rumor and conjecture indicated contingent
right to occupy Port Arthur. which stands at
the entrance Of the Gulf of Pe-chi-H. the con-
tingency being understood to relate TO the case
Of a possible war in which Russia might be in
volved.
This secret treaty OF 1895. what was divulged
OF II and what was left 20 conjecture, was the
cause of one Of the most palpaole European WeL
scares of this generation. Great britain Na'
irritated at the enormous gain 70 her Eastern
rival Germany was suspicious OF the indirect
advantage promised 10 the ally OF france Inc
worst Of the situation was That, until NONeHi-
Der 1891 nothing presented itself as an excuse
IN arv ~ the ~ her Powers for relieving the
tension by a cOmpensatng grab OF Chinese ter
ritory. In that month the fanatical popuiace
of Chang Klo-Chuang unintentlonaily out,
from a purely diplomatic point or view. most
opportunely supplied Germany with the re-
quired provocaton by attacking a German Cath-
Ollie mission station. and. 70 complete Germany
case in justification OF what she wanted 70 40,
the German Minister at Pekng was moooed.
The diplomatic insult. added TO the national OUT
rage made IL possible for the German Emperor
10 exact not only large indemnity, put also
the cesslon Of Kiao-Chau Bay. which, after 1t
had been actually seized by German warshps,
was formally leased 10 Germany for a period
OF fifty years This move was answered on I'M. tne
Russo French side by a strong demonstratioh
against proposed loan Of SSU.UOO.OUO 70 emma
by Great Britain for the building Of a chinese
Government railroad. and. when This opposition
seemed 20 promise comparatively little gain 70
Russia the suspicion OF Port Arthur clause IN
the secret treaty was turned into something
more than a certainty by the Russo-Chinese
Convention. .
This instrument signed at Picking on March
. 1898 leased. not contingently. but actually
Port Arthur and the bay OF Talien-N an 20 rus
leaving the Cars Government the option OF re-
newal az the expiration Of the term by the
combinations OF the Convention OF Picking, Port
Arthur was made a naval station in common for
the two contracting parties. 10 the exclusion OF
all other nations This provision. or course, I'M
piled China's recognition OF Russia as her pest
friend while IL gave the great Northern POWER
an ice free port In part or the word Wnere
Britannia had been very much in the habit OF
ruling the waves Russia was obliged to pro-
vide the barracks and generally see TO the de-
fence OF Port Arthur. She was privileged 70
connect the already existing Russian rairoaa
with Talien Wan Bay, which was also coded 70
her but not exclusively as a base OF naval STRAIT
egy one part of this bay 10 be reserved
for the imperial Russian Navy but the rest II
was understood was 20 be a port free 70 the
commerce OF all the world.
The formal cession OF Port Arthur and fallen
Wan was followed by fresh demands on the part
OF France including one coaling station az Lel-
Chau-Fu and the lease or another at klao-
Chau. which demands remaining unanswered,
at the end OF eight days a French fleet forcibly
helped the republic TO Hai-Nan, a port some
distance south OF Le-Chau-Fu. About the same
time Great Britain, TO even things up, ootained
a lease Of Wei-Hai- Wel-the port which should
have belonged, by right OF conquest 10 ner
virtual ally. Japan-and a considerable Access
sion OF territory TO the British colony OF Hong
Kong
Thus the magnanimous interference or RUSSIA
at the close Of the Chino japanese war, though
IL has not saved Wei-Hai-Wei or any otner ter
rtOry in the long run, TO the Brother OK the
sun and Moon has had It's reward In the open
ing 81 a short cut TO Asiatic waters Tor the
Cars feet and army all the year round as wen
as In important territorial gains 10 tha three
other great European Powers