The times., 1899-08-27
THE OPENING OF PORT ARTHUR.
How Russia's Aid to China Has Help
ed European Powers

How Russia's Aid to China Has Help
ed Europenn Powers
(From the New York Tribune)
One of the most important pieces of for
eign news in the last week was that Rus
sia had thrown open TO the worlds COM
meree her Chinese Fort of Talien-Wan.
making it what it already was in theory
free port. To Americans this step is of
Importance chiefly as a possible indication
that Russia is converted to the open
door Port Arthur. it SO happened was
the starting point of that long course of
international pickering in Northern China
which has more than once in the last five
years threatened the civilized world with
cataclysmic war. and yet in the fire.
quency and gravity of international events
and rumors in that period most newspa-
per readers may very well have forgotten
the chain of accidents which led up TO that
first triumph of Russian diplomacy in the
China European game of grab, which. in
turn. led to maneuvres that provoked Jo-
seph Chamberlain to quote, in alIusion to
Russian diplomacy. Who sups with the
devil must have a long spoon.
Russia's first parallel toward the diplo-
matte capture of Port Arthur and Taiien-
Wan was drawn when, China having been
utterly beaten by Japan in 1895, in
war arising out of the assertion of Chi
nese suzerainty in Corea, the victorious
Island Empire of the East insisted upon
retaining not only Port Arthur, but the
whole Liau-TOng peninsula, which il was
contended. it had fairly won in battle
Russa, with the diplomatic backing of
Germany and France, interfered in behalf
of His Celestial Majesty England and
others powers-at least, the public opin-
ion of these powers-protested against
this interference, but Russia ignored pro-
tests, not placing mere talk above the
promise of solid gain. She, further, help
ed China to settle the money indemnity
imposed by Japan. And in these ways the
Cars representative at Pekin became an
object of gratitude to the Tsung-h-Ya-
men, who began to enquire of him what
they could do for him and his august mas-s
ter.
The answer to this courteous enquiry
was inferred in 1886, when il began 10 be
said that a secret treaty had been conciud-
ed between Russia and China Later on
the secret OF it was partly revealed. Russia
announcing that the government at Pekin
had conceded to that of ST. Petersburg the
right to construct and operate, upon GER
tain easy conditions, a railroad through
Manchuria, connecting the Trans-Siberian
Railroad with the Russian port OF Vladi-
yo5tock, on the Japan Sea. What else the
treaty stipulated to Russia's advantage was
not known, but runor and conjecture in
dieated a contingent right TO occupy Port
Arthur, which stands at the entrance OF
the Gulf Of Pe-ehi-li, the contingency be-
ing understood to relate to the case of
possible war in which Russia might be in
volved
This secret treaty of 1896, what was di-
vulged OF it and what was left TO conjec-
ture, was the cause of one of the most
palpabie European war scares of this gem
Grafton Great Britain was irritated at the
enormous gain to her Eastern rival Ger
many was suspicious of the indirect ad-
vantage promised to the ally of France
The worst OF the situation was that. until
November, 1897, nothing presented itself as
an excuse to any of the other powers for
reiieving the tension by compensating
grab OF Chinese territory. In that month |
the fanatieal populace of Chang-Kio- |
Chuang unintentionally but, from a purely I
diplomatic point OF view, most opportune- /
ly, supplied Germany with the required !
by attacking German Cath I
oiic mission station, and to complete Ger I
many's case in Justification of what she 4
wanted to do, the German Minister at Pc +
Kin Was mObbed. The diplomatic Insult /
ADDED TO the national outrage made il pos
slble for the German Emperor to exact not 4
only large indemnity, but also the cession
of Klao- Chou Bay, which, after 1t had been
actually seized by German warships was
formally leased TO Germany for period
of nifty years. This move was answered
On the Russo-French side by strong de-
monstration against proposed loan Of
SSo 1000 TO China by Great Britain for
Lhe building OF Chinese Government
railroad, and, when this opposition SEEM
"a TO promise comparatively little gain TO
Russia, the suspicion of Port Arthur
;iause In the secret treaty was turned into
something more than certainty by the
convention
This instrument signed at Pekin on
March 2, 1898, leased, not contingentIy. but
actually. Port Arthur and the Bay of Tai
en- wan to Russia for term of twenty
I'VE years, practically leaving the Cars
government the option of renewal at the
expiration of the term. BY the capitula-
lions OF the Convention of Pekin Port
Arthur was made naval station in COM
non Tor the two contracting parties TO the
exclusion of all other nations. This rro i
vision. of course. implied China's recog-
lition OF Russia as her best friend, while
I gave the great northern power an ice
lree port in a part of the world where I
Srtannla had been very much in the habit {
of ruling the waves. Russia was Obliged
% provide the barracks and generally see
% the defence of Port Arthur She was
privileged to connect the already existing
iNusSidH railroad with IaHen-W2n Bay. |
which was also ceded TO her, but not ex-
,lusiveiy as base of naval strategy One /
part OF this bay was TO be reserved for
he imperial Russian navy, but the rest. it
vas understood. was to be a port free to
ne commerce of all the world.
The formal eession of Port Arthur and
ralien-Wan was followed by fresh de-
nands on the part of France, including one
;oailng station at Lei-Chau-Fu and the
ease OF another at Kiao- Chou, which de-
nands remaining unanswered. at the end
Il eight days French fleet forcibIy heIped
he republic to HaiNan, a port. some dis
ance south of Lei i-Chau-Fu. About the
anne time Great Britain, to even things
p, obtained lease of Wei-Ha Hai-Wei-the
ort which should have belonged bv right
# conquest to her virtual ally, Japan-and
considerable accession of territory TO
he British colony of Hongkong
Thus the magnaimous interference of
lussia at the close of Chine-Japanese. war
hough it has not saved Wei-Hai-Wei or
ny other territory, in the long run. TO the
'rother of the Sun and Moon. has had it's ,
eward in the opening of short cut 10 {
static waters for the Cars fleet and ar
ny all the year around as we'll as in i'm l
ortant territorial gains to the three other
reat European powers .