THE WAR SCARE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 67, 21 March 1898, Page 5

THE WAR SCARE.

FRANCE AND CHINA.

ATTEMPT TO BLOCK BRITISH

EXTENSION.

LONDON, March IS

France demands that China shall not alienate territory south of the Yang--.se-l.iang. This is done with a view of blocking- British extension from. Kowioon, which was ceded to Britain in 1861, and also to! obstruct the Burmese railway extension, granted to Britain through Yiman. France demands the cession of a coaling station at Kwanchow, and the prolongation of the Laokai railway in the French sphere in Tonquin into Yunan. The 'Times,' referring to the French demands as regards Kowioon, states they show the necessity for securing the expansion which the Government of Hongkong pressed upon the Home authorities when China, at the instigation of France, gave Britain the right to demand compensation for a breach of the Burmese agreement. However, owing to procrastination, the Imperial Government were now confronted with the attempt by France to steal a march. It was necesary to make China understand that worse things would happen than the occupation of Hainan if she yielded to France. PEKIN, March 19. The French Ambassador-at Pekin, on his last visit to the Tsung-li-Yamen, or Chinese Council of Foreign Affairs, when the demands of France were refused, threatened active operations from Tonquin, and the seizure of a coaling station.