Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
AFFAIRS IN LONDON
Discussing the Agreement Between
Germany and England.
=: -. 49,
SIGNS OF AN EARLY WINTER
Municipal Ownership Of City Om-
e., nibus Lines.
NEW CHI RIST las CA RID S


LONDON, October "a, 1900
The Anglo-German agreement over China
has come as a surprise to foreign govern
| ments, and though all must assent to its
!, conditions, which read fair enough, yet in
st. Petersburg and Paris it is inevitable
that some resentment will be felt at its
being practically overreached. The most
astonishing feature of the whole thing is
the tremendous diplomatic triumph
achieved by Germany over all other rivals,
even including Great Britain, her partner
to the agreement
A few years ago who would have cen
suited Germany in regard to China? She
had no Chinese policy, little Chinese trade
and no Chinese interests. Now Germany
suddenly comes to the front as power
with a first-rate interest In the far east.
and is put on even terms with England,
whose trade and interests are hundreds of
times greater than those Of the Teutons.
A German general is accepted as COM
mander-in-chief by the powers, and Ger
manys really trivial interests are consulted
by Britain, the giant of eastern commerce.
All this to circumvent Russia!
What the Agreement Means.
Those who have not studied the agree
ment, however, may have some disap-
pointments awaiting them. The declara-
IlOn QOeS not lncluue Il pleuSe 10 ueIeHu the
integrity of the Chinese empire against all
corners. What is intended by the declara-
ton Of the allies is that in the event of
other powers making territorial aggression
in China, England and Germany would
compensate themselves in the same way.
1 happen to know what would be done.
England would seize Shanghai and would
defend, by arms If necessary. her protec-
torate over the Yangtse valley. Germany
would take the whole province of Shantung,
%I,a CIV
privileges of trading to their respective
subjects.
That such a declaration should now be
made may be taken evidence of the
imminent danger of disintegration in which
the Chinese empire now stands.
Another point not fully realized Is the
supreme Importance of the alliance be-
tween England and Germany disclosed by
the publication of the declaration. The
two make a very powerful combination on
land and sea-
Bad Weather in London.
Three consecutive days of unpleasantly
cold weather, emphasized by few particles
of falling snow, have not tended to make
Londoners more cheerful. Such Of them as
profess to be weather-wise are full of dole
full representations. They recall former
years in which low temperatures were re-
corded at similarly early period, and de-
clare that in a majority Of cases the I'M
seasonable visitations were followed by
hard winter.
With coal at famine prices, varying from
81 to IS ton. this is not agreeable out
look because 1t means empty CRATES when
they should be most generously supplied,
|. as we'll as vast amount Of suffering
among the poor. Still, there Is some COM
fort to be derived from the fact that all
cold Octobers have not been followed by
prolonged bad weather. If one swallow
doesn't make summer, it Is equally clear
that one pinch of frost or snow cannot
have much effect in regulating climate con-
ditions during the next six months.
Dark Days Ahead.
At the same time 1t must be admitted
| that the park trees are shedding their TO-
| liage very rapidly. that garden plots look
unusually bare of bloom and that the rustic
| of dead leaves conveys ominous re-
1 minder of the drearily dark days to come,
| and dark they are In a London winter.