The Anglo-German Agreement.

Manawatu Herald, 25 October 1900, Page 2

The Anglo-German Agreement.

Nothing can be more satisfactory regarding the crisis in China than the news received that -Qreat Britain and Germany are working band-in-hand. It is probable that the agreement contains a gentle hint to Russia t to confine herself to pacification*' instead of the annexation of the northern districts of China, and it will be a Mnt taken to, heart by that Power and wtll be acted on. Russia will have n.p. , wish . to- act in opposition to the strongly expressed views of Great Britain^ ajnd Germany, and though during the past • trouble at Pekin she has been acting in an entirely selfish and annexing spirit, she will be remedy to drop all she has picked up if she finds that it is too hot to hold. The English Premier has scored a great success in securing the co-opera-tion of Germany in the views he has

always expressed of a determination for an " open door " for trade nnd an abstention from acquiring 'my part of the Chinese Empire. Th- ;re can be no doubt that the trade with China is of great value to (^r ' Rr itain, and is possible to become . . . aud it is best to • ;c> „ 'je least possible outlay. If n y _ portion of China was taken as territory by Great Britain she would have the expense of administering and policeing it, and her ports and rivers would be open to all traders, so that avoiding the expenses and securing the profits is a masterly move. These two great Powers being of one mind has induced the smaller Powers to be in accord with them, and thus the Pekin atrocities may lead to the demand of the whole of China being thrown open to the trade of the whole world, and some stable government set up under the support and approval of Great Britain and Germany. The way being thus smoothed for a settlement of the Chinese question it is possible that the French nat^kj^y, understand the positionMke^^fe^an^ -^ill exercise more ca?t.*W t<x r th£ manner they criticise the British," nation, and finding that' Great Britain's troubles have been subdued, they will have no desire to go to war with her ready to throw the whole of her power and might against France. This is still more gratifying and if France can but be convinced that her best polidy is peace, we may hope that the new century will open under far happier circumstances to what the last year of the old century did. With universal peace, general prosperity must follow in which the colonies are bound to participate, so that the prospects of peace is cheering to us all.