The Topeka state journal., 1901-03-29
ENGLAND COMPLAINS.
Thinks Americas Course in China Is
Not Positive Enough.

New York, March pa dispatch to
the Tribune from London says:
There is the usual Chinese medley in
the dispatches from Pelzin, St. Peters
burg, Berlin and Washington. A pos
tive assertion from Russian sources
that the AIanchuria convention has been
signed is met with equally explicit
statements that England has protested
against it and that the Chinese gov
ernment has deferred action, owing to
appeals from the viceroys Of Wucllang
and Marking and protests from Japan
and other powers. Lord Cranborne ad-
mitted in the house OF commons that he
did not know whether the agreement had
been accepted or rejected. It is a. tan
gled Skein of diplomacy, and the first
knot that needs to be unraveled is the
real scope of the Anglo German agree
pudiated, but the two partners have
clearly been playing at cross purposes
and with demoralizing effect.
AS far as the Yangtse Viceroys are
concerned, these viceroys who had pre-
vented a revolution in central China
were protesting against the surrender Of
Manchuria to Russia by the Manchu
party of reaction Count Won BuelOW
paralyzed their action when he declared
that Manchuria was outside the scope
of the Anglo German agreement, for he
virtually licensed Russia to enforce and
proclaim the provisions OF the Manchu-
ria convention. Lord Cranborne has
been breaking the force of this revela-
ton by contradictions and evasions,
which leave a final impression that the
two partners are not in accord respect
ing the policy which should be adopted
toward Russia.
The action of Japan in interpreting in
a natural way the scope of that conven-
tion and the dangers to which the
Yangtse vicerOys may be exposed from
resentment of the Manchu dynasty may
warn the western powers that strenuous
opposition must be offered to the Rus-
sian plan of campaign. Diplomatists
explain the situation as result of the
German reverslon to Bismarck tradi-
tions. Bismarck always contrived to
have q secret understanding with Rus
Sia. whatever might be his relations or
alliances with other powers. The Ger
man emperor has made an agreement
with England whom Bismarck never
regarded as a natural ally. He has sud
denly honored the traditions of Bis
marcx diplomacy by disclaiming any
interference with Russian designs in
Nanchuria. The diplomatic view is that
this result is due either to the necessity
Of conciliating the anti-English prejudice
in Germany or to the expediency of
winning Russian support to the indem-
nifty proposals or other points concern
ing which the concert is now divided.
Members of parliament are encouraged
by the outspOken leaders in the Times
and are hoping that the government will
pull itself together and condemn strong
ly EtuSSidu lithiS LES against lHe lHlSS-
rity of China. This would involve en-
phatic reputation of Count Won
Buelow's announcement that the Anglo
German agreement excludes Manchuria
and the adoption of the literal interpre-
tation of that convention placed upon it
by japan.
English complaints are heard that the
American government is inactive and
feeble in the China question. These
structures will come with better grace
when it is apparent that the Anglo
German agreement is not a cover for the
Russian conquest of northern China,
and that the British government is bent
upon supporting the best of the Yangtse
viceroys, instead of condoning the plots
of the worst and most reactionary Man
churian intriguers-