Russia's Hand in the Orient.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 108, 9 May 1896, Page 4 (Supplement)

Russia's Hand in the Orient.

Getting a Firm Grip on Manchuria.

A despatch to the New York ' Sun,' dated March 2Sth, from Londou, states :—' The next few months-ought to give some proof to the world of the changed relations in Russia and China. Beyond doubt) arrangements have been made ot far - reaching consequences, bub their exact character are not yeb publicly known. It is nob likely thab any official announcement will be made until after tha Czar's coronation, to which the famous Viceroy Li Hung Chang ia now on bis way aa special envoy of the Emperor of China. Nobody in St. Petersburg doubts that the coronation ia merely a pretext for covering a political mission of the highest importance. Least) of all is there any uncertainty of this subjecb at the Asiatic department of tha Russian Foreign Office, where ipx month's past the chief business haa related to China.

Grave concern must exist in Tokio, for unless, Japan is prepared to fight Russia and win, Manchuria may big regarded' »s already Russian territory. The besb information ab hand is thab Li Hung Chang brings with him toll power to sign a treaty giving Russia a virtual protectorate brer Manchuria. The main line of the greab trans-Siberian railroad i? to be diverted at Tsbeta, and to be run thence throughout) Manchuria to Fort Arthur, and as much of the country which it will traverse is wild, and inhabited by a turbulent population, the railroad-makora are to. be protected by Cossack soldiers of the Czar's army. It> ia estimated ab St. Petersburg that the force required will neb be less than 20,000.

If one asks & Russian politician or statesman what will be done with this army when the railroad is completed he smiles the smile of a man who knows he holds tba winning cards in the game. It i« &s certain as a mundane thiog can be thab once Russia gets this grip on Manchuria is will never be released. Porb Arthur, apparently, is to be made a free porb, but thab is not a matter of course, seeing that a leading member of the British Cabinet has declared that Knglaud will raise no objection to Russia securing an ice free pore in bhab region, and that the only power which may venture to protest is Japan. Tbo temptation to Russia to complete the job thoroughly while she is about it seems irresistible.

About the middle of the China-Japanese war> very distinguished Japanese diplomat then in London and now in the Foreign Office at Tokio, predicted what now ia happening, and at the same time declared that the stake at issue was co immeasurably important thab Japan would have to fight Russia alone, if necessary, and even at tba risk of annihilation. A good many things have happened since than, however, to put bound* upon Japan's' pugnacity and •mhifcjoa.