The times., 1899-03-12
THE ANGLO-RUSSIhN
AGREEMENf IN China
1t Means European Occupation
of the Coast.
The Hague Conference Might Con-
slider Chinese Questions.
Six Powers Have TnciIy Divided
the shore. But HinterIand
Troubles May Follow.

London, March 1.-THE battle of Nieu-
Chwang has ended in compromise and a
friendly desire on the part Of Russia and
England to meet each others views. That
is the real position of affairs, and the
faring placards on the newspaper contents
bills, Great Victory Over Russia" Bear
Backs Down, Russia Humiliated," and
the rest are mere journalistic froth. Rus
sia has been assured that the contract be
tween the Chinese government and British
fnanciers shall not be interpreted as con
stituting British control of railways in
Manchuria. and so Russia withdraws her
protest against the contract.
One obvious deduction is that, whatever
politicians may pretend, the Chinese gov
ernment has ceased to be a factor with
which European statesmen concern them
selves. Russia, Germany England France.
Japan. and now Italy have settled them
selves down on Chinas coast, and no bit
OF seaboard is now left to her except
narrow strip at the bottom Of the Gulf OF
Pechili, and that is more European than
Chinese. China, with her 42g 900 sub
jects. has fallen a prey 10 group of six
powers. whose combined population is
100, coo less. To adapt President KTu-
gers famous aphorism. China is not a
state, but a people. headess like flight
of locusts. but lacking the community in
stinct, which makes Of locusts a great
people. though they have no king
Tu-stIc for HinterIands.
Now will come in China, as there came
in Africa, a tussle for Hinterlands, and the
suggestion is made that the Peace Con-
ference, which meets at The Hague on
May IS should turn aside from Mr.. Stead's
somewhat discredited crusade and seek TO
provide against this most immediate men
ace TO the worlds peace. What the Berlin
Conference Of lSS4-'S5 began in Africa The
Hague Conference might do in China,
namely, agre on the broad principles on
which China is TO be spoiled by the Euro
pean governments and capitalists, and,
especially provide for open waterways ard
as many open doors, or free-trade areas.
as the influence of England, America,
Germany, Italy, and Japan can secure. In
reaching this end the greatest obstacle
probably viii prove 10 be not Russia, but
France
The Irish university scheme is dead
for the present session at least That ad-
mission must be humiliating TO Mr. Al
thur Balfour, who made long and earnest
personal appeals to Protestant ireland, but
ing remained unmoyed, and Protestant
England is just now so militant over ritual
ism that the ministry dare not bring for
ward scheme which might be turned into
another weapon in the anti-ROman cam
paign.
MIR. ChOnte's PopuiariIy.
On all hands one hears of the excellent
impression which Mr.. Choate is quietly
making among those leading Englishmen
he is No ~ meeting. Other evidences OF the
reality Of Anglo-American friendship are
found in the excellent effect created here
OF the American offer of a man-of-war to
convey Lord Herschell's body home. AS
the Speaker says today, 1t il tolerably
certain that if his death had occurred q
few years ago there would have been 10
thought On the part of the American peo-
pie TO pay this very exceptional honor 10 MS
memory
/ understand that the ministry at Otta-
Wa have caused the British government TO
be assured that there is no truth whatever
in the assertions cabled here from New
York this week that the adjournment Of the
Joint High Commission has given rise 10
resentment in Canada against Great Britain
and has set afoot a movement for Canadian
independence.
Much satisfaction is expressed among
British shipowners over this mornings an
nouncement that the Washington Govern
ment, in response to representations from
Lord Salisbury, has made important con-
cessions in Cuba by revoking the clauses of
the new tonnage dues regulations which
must have proved detrimental to British
trade.
Tropical Medicine.
Mr. Chamberlain is doing his best to
destroy the character OF West Afri2a as
the white mans grave. On his initiative
the House of Commons last night voted
q grant in aid OF school of tropical med
icine. The necessary buildings are being
erected in connection with the Dread
naught Hospital in the Albert Docks, Lon
don where doctors destined for West
Africa will 90 for two months clinical ana
practical instruction in the cure OF tropical
diseases Nurses also will undergo simi-
lar training. the cost being partly met by
private subscriptions. Mr.. Chamberlain s
belief is that diseases in West Africa may
be combated as successfully as those in
Calcutta and Hongkong have been.
KipIing's lines, If blood be the price of
admiralty, Lord God, We have paid in
full are nowhere more true than Oh the
Niger.
The very inadequate response to the ap-
peal for subscriptions for an Antarctic eX-
petition suggests the question whether
the Englishmans enthusiasm for adyen-
ture is dying out. AS yet, despite much
drum beating. only 81, 900 has been raised,
OF which the Geographical Society gives
s25 GOO and Alfred Harmsworth SO, ,O00.
Other contributions are: 5000 by the
Royal Society, s. 900 by the government.
and only Sl5, 600 by individual members OF
the public This Is in marked contrast
with the great meeting held in Berlin a
few days ago TO further a German Ant
arctic expedition Fifteen hundred people
were present, and the Emperor was pre-
vented only at the last moment from a.
tending. The German government is con-
tributing a large sum. and there IS no lack
OF funds for q properly equipped expedi-
tion.
Religious story Boom.
The boom in Charles sheldon's religion
stories continues. AS the Academy says
1T succeeds the boom in The Three Mus
keteers London booksellers are dis
playing seven Of his stories. and penny re-
prints still sell largely in the streets. Five
weeks ago not one Englishman in a thous-
and had had ever heard Of Sheldon The
almost inevitable sequel 10 this success IS
the discussion which Clement Shorter has
opened whether Sheldon's views are lot
really immoral.
Even Victor Hugo Is going into a cheaE
edition. Roun et Gle. announce 25-
centime edition Of each OF his works, be-
ginning with ''Notre Dame"
The journalistic sensation Of the week Is
the announcement by the Daily Tele-
graph" Of Sunday issue The contrib
utors include Sir Edwin Arnold, II. d
Trail, Edward Dicey, T. p o'Connor, ana