The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-02
Anglo-Russian Entente.

"
ing the Russian authorities, as they
are reported to be sanguine Of secur-
ing an understanding with England,
which will permanently settle the
boundary question in Asia between
the two Asiatic powers.
The. Associated Press vouches for
the correctness of Its information in
this direction and Indicates that King
Edward himself is actively laboring
to that end, Some OF the rumors cur
rent are that, the basis Of the entente
is :Russia's. guarantee OF Britains In
dian frontier while Britain will per-
nit Russia to appropriate Manchuria;
the continued disregard Of the treaty
Eof Paris. Of 1856. already commenced
by Russia, by Wiping out Turkeys
wardenahip over the Dardanelles and
Eopening the passage from the Black
sea to- the Mediterranean as neutral
water;. and permission to Russia to
continue her southern progress to the
Persian gulf, which England has
sturdily opposed hitherto thru fear Of
a Russian invasion OF Indiar from
that direction. =s ;sssys 49,
:Russia, under this arrangement, Is
tosgive up her own designs on Tibet,
where England mays establish a pro-
tectorate If she will, without any In
reference by Russia.
This is the way Ruyisia would like
| to arrange entent erarns, 81 course,
buts1t is not easy to- believe that Eng
| land Is willing. for the quieting of the
Indian boundary dispute, to go back
on her hoary program Of constructing
buffers between herself and Russia in
Asia, especially as Russia's bad faith
and speedy forgetfulness Of promises
have become proverbial. England's
treaty, offensive and defensive, with
Japan, whose humiliation Russia is
just now intent upon, ought to stand
as a check to- any dishonorable en-
couragement given to the treacherous
Muscovite power. Upon any reason
able view of the subject, however,
Lord Curzon's action, sending an
armed expedition In Tibet is as
and occupation Of Manchuria. He
cables to London that the T1betane
fired the first shot. This is just what
he might have expected when, with
out warning, he sent into Tibet an
armed force to bully the Grand Lama
into signing the death warrant Of his
country's Independence. The wanton
massacre Of Tibetans is a stain upon
the British Indian government. II
will entail upon England a. long and
costly war with the numerous tribes
who are classed under the head 'Ti.
betan," ranging from semi-civilized tt
wild, intractable nomads.
If any such arrangement as the Civ.
ing to Russia of a free hand in Man.
there Is no hope of maintaining thu
integrity Of China. France and Ger
many will, at once, extend theil
hinterlands from their present land
steals in Anam and Tonquin ant
Shantung, respectively as far as the,
, can, into the interior of China.
The result of such movements upo1
the Chinese population and the Man
chu dynasty is a matter of conjecture
Probably the somewhat discordan
elements of the population will pull
themselves together for a ferociou
struggle for Chinese nationality, alth
,, at present there is not much Of tn
= true national spirit among them. TIL
disintegration of the old empire wi
. not be accomplished except by a vas
I expenditure of blood and treasure
We are ON the verge of deep TRACE
: dies in the farther east.