The sun., 1904-06-14
Did Mr.. Balfour Invite Russia to
Take Port Arthur?

We are unable to find any documentary
or other proof Of the assertion said to
have been made by Mr.. HENRY NORMAN
in the Westminster Gazette Of May 2l-the
assertion. namely, that in considering
their duty toward the present belliger-
ents in the Far East Englishmen should
mot forget that the statesman who in set
terms invited Russia to Port Arthur was
the present British Prime Minister"
The facts, 80 far as We are able to YER
ify them, are the following: Lord ROSE
RERY was Prime Minister in the interval
between April II, 1895, when was signed
the Treaty, Of shimonoseki-by which
southern Manchuria was ceded to Japan
-and May 10 Of the same year, when the
Mikado, submitting to the pressure
brought to bear on him by the Russian,
German and French Governments, Is
sued q sesclipt retrooeding all the terri
tory On the Asiatic mainland which had
bean ceded to him by China. There is no
doubt that In spite Of Russia, Germany
and France combined, the Toxic Govern
ment would have refused to make the
required retrocession had it been as
sured that, in this attitude, it would have
the support Of the British feet. For the
failure of the British Foreign Office to
foresee the consequences Of the retro
cession, and to give betimes to the Toxic
Government such assurances as would
have prevented it, Lord RosEBERY, and
be alone, must be held responsible.
Whom, in the course Of the same year,
Lord SALISBURY became once more
Premier, the deed was done, and in the
eyes Of the Japanese Great Britain was
chargeable with passive connivance at
the interposition by which they had been
despoiled Of the hard won fruits Of vic
tory. By the short sighted policy which
he pursued, Lord RosEBERY not only
lost the confidence of japan, but he
failed to gain the good will Of China, for
Count CAssINI, then Russian Minister
at Pekin, persuaded the Chinese Govern
ment that England's studiously neutral
posture had been, in reality, the mask
Of concealed alliance with the Toxic
Government. 1t was because Ii HUNG
CHANG and other Chinese magnates then
dominant at Pekin were convinced that
Russia was their country's best friend
that Count CAssINI was able in the year
named dse5) to conclude the reputed
convention. the text Of which was pub
lished by the North China Daily Ners.
That reputed agreement not only gave
Russia large railway privileges in Man.
churia, but also fifteen-year lease of the
port Of Kiauchau in the province Of
Shantung. Il was provided; moreover,
that, in the event Of an outbreak Of hos
tilities between China end another Power,
Russia should be permitted to occupy
temporarily the harbdrs Of Port Arthur
and Talienwan.'
If the Cassini convention was really
concluded-and few well informed diplo-
matists doubt its existence-it is obvious
any British Foreign Minister to occupy
Port Arthur. She had taken measures
to secure possession, in an easily fore
seen contingency, of that naval fortress
before Mr.. A. j. BALFoUR assumed the
direction Of the British Foreign Office.
The foreseen contingency soon occurred.
In November, 1897, Kiauchau Bay was
occupied by German warships, and a
month later Russia had sent five men-of-
war to Port Arthur. In March of the fol-
lowing year. 1898, Russia had secured a
lease OF that naval fortress and of the
adjacent anchorage at Talienwan, the
consideration for the lease. which was
of twenty-five years duration; but renew
able by mutual agreement. being tho