The Press. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1900. THE GAME OF BLUFF IN THE FAR EAST.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10757, 10 September 1900, Page 4

The Press. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 1900. THE GAME OF BLUFF IN THE FAR EAST.

Affairs in the Far East seem now to be approaching a crisis; Bussia, as usual, is forcing the pace, and the world is waiting breathless to see the result of one of the greatest diplomatic struggles of this century. One thing is qaite certain, and that is that the Muscovite has completed bis grip on Manchuria. The Cz&r'a Government has rivalled Ignatieff's great ?'coup" of 1860, when Pekin, being in the hands of the Anglo-French forces, and China "in extremis," Russia demanded, and'obtained,'the cession of the ifanchurian sea coast, extending for six hundred miles, and of the country, stretching between the Usuri and Amur rivers, and the Sea of Japan. This was accomplished, as Mr. Colquhoun. points out, by diplomatic pressure, skilfully, applied, without even a consideration of any kind in return. After the Japanese war Russia again repeated the squeezing process, and received trading privileges, which gave her access to the very fceart of Manchuria. In 1897, this advantageous position was further assured by acquisition of the right to build railways and t4 station troops throughout the country, and by the practical cession of Port Arthur and Talienwan. Now, we are told, she has occupied every fortress in Manchuria except Mukden, relying on the agreement already referred to authorising her to protect the railways. Practically it is the occupation of th*e countvy, not to be again given up except upon absolute compulsion.

If Russia gets Manchuria alone, it will be a magnificent addition to her already huge territories. It has been described as "a richer Canada," with a very similar climate, and it is more than twice the area of Japan, and nearly six times the size of England and Wales. But the Russians regard Manchuria merely as a base for further operations. Gordon warned the Tsung-li-Yamen in 1880 that the Russians would one day lay hands on Pekin, and to make the capital more secure he reconuaended fche removal of ite suburbs. The Ministers said that could not possibly be done. "Very well," said Gordon, " the Russians will be in Pekin within a month of crossing the frontier." "Then what are wb to do?" they aiked. your Queen Bee to Nankin," said Gordon. The fulfilment of this prophecy may now be very near at hand—in fact, it is certain to be accomplished within a very short epace of time, unless Rossia is opposed by some Power or combination of Powers able and willing to say at this juncture; "Thus far, and no further."

For our part we are doubtful whether that word will be said- Mr. Colquihoun, who is one of the leading authorities on the Far Eastern question, thanks the time has now gone by wh«n Great Britain could make any «ff«*iv« ftgmme&t with Ruusa, nrnply **•

cause the British Government has given way w&en it should have remained fisn> and bae now iktle or nothing to offer. Our best ■remaining chance of re-establishing oar influence in the Chinese Empire, he holds, is to let the Imperial Court go by the board and make terms with the Governors of the Yang-tse Valley—to take it, in fact, under British protection against all the world, and make of it another Soudan. The provincial authorities, foe tells us, are proBritish, because they see that Great Britain, taken at her worst, is a less evil than Russia. As he very truly says, however, this is "a man's work," and it may be doubted whether the British Cabinet is strong enough to undertake it at this moment. Possibly the present crisis may be tided over by a patched-up arrangement between the Powers. Russia will be quite content to retain her present advantages and let matters drift for another year or two until the Trans-Siberian railway is completed, but that the process of the absorption of China will steadily go on until it is cbecked by war, seems as certain as anything can be amid the proverbial uncertainties of the diplomatic world.