CABLE NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LV, Issue 102, 2 May 1898, Page 5

CABLE NEWS.

[BY ELKCTKIC TELKGKAPH. — COPYRIGHT.] « BRITAIN'S INFLUENCE IN THE FAR EAST. ANGRY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE 01? COMMONS. A SPIRITED DEFENCE BY MR. BALFOUR. [PKBBS ASSOCIATION.! London, 30th April. An angry debate lias taken place in the House of Commons over the correspondence on Chinese affairs. Sir William Harconrt, Leader of the Opposition, said the negotiations had resulted in a series of Russian triumphs. Sir Charles Dilke and Lord Charles Beresford condemned the withdrawal of the British ships from Port Arthur. Mr. Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, denied that there had been any abrogation of the Tientsin Treaty. Britain, he said, had obtained without the Chinese loan nearly all she had hoped to secure with it. Russia had evoked distrust and bitterness in China which led that country to grant farreaching concessions to Britain instead of Russia. Britain was quietly consolidating her position, while if she had precipitated events she would have roused forces which must have proved a serious obstacle in her path. As for 'Wethaiwei, that had been obtained for military purposes without reference to trade or commerce. It was never intended that British warships should remain at Port Arthur. He considered the Russian position \Aas worse than it was eight months ago. Germany had come on the scene and Britain was forced to lease a port in the Gulf of Pechili. There was no objection to Britain conciliating German}' and giving her assurances that her Sphere would not be interfered with. The newspapers commend Mr. Balfour's dialectics, but are not satisfied with his explanations. The Times attributes the weakness of Lord Salisbury and Mr. Balfour to their having to discharge double duties.