New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-24
FUROPE'S VIEWS ON CHINA
SOUTH AFRICAN WAR SINKS INTO BACK.
GROUND-ACTION OF POWERS.

IN South Africa military, territorial and anan
cial considerations that in their magnitude have
scarcely been exceeded in the century. Great
Britain IS no exception TO the rest of Europe in
being wrought up TO a pitch OF intense anxiety
gnd anticipation to the exclusion of every other
topic by the drama now being enacted in the
Far East
In the excitement Of the moment the relief of
8Iafekjng seems a little thing compared with
the relief of Nice-AdmiraI Seymour and the in
ternational forces Spion Kop. Paardeberg and
CoIenso sink into insignihcance compared with
the spectacle presented by the land and sea
forces Of the six greatest Powers in the world
fighting side by side against a common enemy
With keen sense OF the relative proportion Of
things. Great Britain quickly turned her ewes
10 China not 50 much, perhaps, immediate
developments as upon the possibility Of the
epoch making war or wars which may arise out
OF the present crisis.
COUNT MCRAVIEFFS DEATH
The death Of Count Muravien. the Russian
Minister OF Foreign Affairs evoked no canting
obituaries or expressions Of regret here. for the
British press. in spite Of the equanimity of the
Foreign Office. was unanimous in realizing the
gravity OF the present turn Of affairs To quote
& staid and humane weekly, the death Of Rus
sia's Minister removes an obstacle TO the cor
diality between Russia and England" and
though this summarizes the comment of the
leading papers. there is little hope expressed that
Russia's aggressive policy toward China will be
much modified. Apart from the material view
OF the result OF Count NIuravieffs death ii is
generally referred 10 as one Of the most pathetic
happenings in political careers. for. according to
the dead mans critics, he seemed owing to the
crisis IN China, the verge Of accomplishing
The object TO which he had devoted his life.
Lord Loch's death. almost coinciding with
Count NIuravieffs, also removes one whose name
was much connected with matters in the Far
East. Before he became a Colonial Governor
Lord Loeb assisted in the negotiations which
resulted in the treaty OF Tien-Tsin in 1860. and
only escaped execution at the hands Of the Chi
nese Emperor by fifteen minutes grace Like
8IuraviefT he was struck down when the dream
Of his lifetime seemed about 10 be realized. In
his case II was British federation over the whole
OF South Africa
Lord Salisbury's entreaty this week to the
missionaries not 10 have themselves murdered
is one more instance of his uncommon frank
ness or. as it is referred TO- his thinking aloud
phase" Among the secular press the Premier's
remark viii meet the appreciation Of their sound
common sense but il will add Church votes
10 the Conservative party at the next general
election. which, by the way. is still further post
pOned owing 10 the Chinese trouble.
From every capital in Europe and from every
news centre the world over there is pouring
into London an amazingly interesting stream
OF stories purporting to foretell the action the
Powers intend TO take in regard 10 China. Ac-
cordlng TO usually well informed correspondents
at Rome Vienna. Yokohama. Paris and Berlin.
the Powers are now celebrating as 70 the ad-
visibility Of inprisoning the Empress Dowager
of China, and are busy arranging the details Of
the long looked for partition Of the Celestial
Empire
These forecasts bear many evidences Of au-
thOFiLative inspiration, yet 1t may be said they
have not a fragment Of basis. Upon the au-
thority Of the British Government it can be de-
clared that no communications have passed be-
tween the Powers regarding any action in China
excepting the relief and release Of the diplo-
mats shut up in Picking. When that is accom-
plished, 10 use the words Of a Foreign Office
official, 1T viii be time enough for the Nations
70 deliberate on their further course Of action"
This official added
No plan for the eventual settlement of the
Chinese problem has so far been presented to
Great Britain, nor even suggested to her
QUESTION OF sUZERAINTY.
While Lord Salisbury is too cautious TO
NIT himself to prophesy regarding the outcome
Of one Of the most remarkable crises in the
worlds history, it is learned that he is not in
mediately bring up that most vital Of all points,
namely the paramount necessity for European
suzeratnty over the entire Chinese Empire.
Further 10 quote the Foreign Office official:
In discussing the utterances Of statesmen and
the writing OF correspondents one must re-
member they are TO be gagged by STANDARDS OF
comparative ignorance rather than by coInpara-
Tive knowledge. No European really Knows
ANYTHING about China Some know less than
others but that is about all II amounts 70. we
are not parleying with the other Powers, anu
The other Powers are not parleyIng with US, Tor
The simple reason that We are all ignorant or
the conditions We are facing Unanimously We
are trusting 10 the naval officers on the SpoN
When they are in position TO report 10 Us me
extent Of the uprising. they may be able 10 Ten
Us whether we are facing a repelilon chleIg
confined 10 the north whether we are op-
posed 70 the whole Chinese people ana Govern
rnert Then il will be feasible, but not until
then for the Powers 10 get together IN an at
tempt 10 agree on some method or setting LOI-
ever the Chinese problem. ~.
The lrst thing is 10 release our respective UP
IOnars That il seems. has not yet been ac-
cOmpIshed and while that remains the cnleL
objective and the naval commanders OF ali Nd
tons maintain the present harmony NIelt
Britain Is not anxious nor do the oJher POWERS
seem anxious 10 bring W the debatable ques-
tons OF eventual settlement, ana you may pG
assured that all the reports OF an international
agreement on 2 line Of action subsequent 70 tHS
restoration 20 safety Of the diplomats al FefLhs
are premature and unfounded.
POSSIBLE WAR OF RUSSIA AND JAPAN
The general trend OF the best informed opin-
ion II London seems 10 be that the opposing IN
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