RUSSIAN POLICY IN CHINA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11689, 26 June 1901, Page 6

RUSSIAN POLICY IN CHINA.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the New York Herald sends to his journal, under date May 19, a statement made to him bv a high Russian authority on Russia's policy in China. The correspondent says : —It was at Yalta, in September, that I last met His Excellency. He then outlined with care and skill for the Herald, as a medium of communication to the American people, Russia's proposed policy of peace in China. hi this policy the United States has most thoroughly agreed, notwithstanding the jingo and irregular conduct of Minister Conger. The situation in the East at that, time was intensely critical. Anything seemed possible, even war between the Powers. The United States, curiously enough, held the balance of the situation in her hand. She cast in her lot with Russia for peace. At that time His Excellency lived in a, primitive, but beautiful, villa, quite near the palace of Livadia, the verandah overlooking the Bay of Yalta. To-day we met in his magnificent official resilience, opposite the big red Whiter Palace, where the yellow and black Imperial standard flies. The furniture is of an elaborate gold legged and goldbacked type, and there are many flunkeys in gold-braided official liveries there.

Simple and cordial, just as at Yalta, was the big man—big by the responsibility attaching to his office. Naturally I first asked his opinion of the attitude of the United States in the Chinese question. He replied:- " It has been a matter of sincere pleasure to me to note that America, without any prearranged plans or communications, has each time there has been a division of opinion found herself on the same side as Russia, and of the same opinion." " Is Russia anxious tc get out of China as soon as possible?" "We are out," lie replied, briskly, "and so are the Americans. But so long as large forces of troops remain necessary the conditions for a prompt settlement cannot exist."

I remembered the German statesman's remark that the troops must remain until China gave a guarantee. I mentioned this " guarantee." He replied: — " But the proposition we make of an international loan by the Powers—is not that the most perfect guarantee imaginable?" " You see in that a rapid solution?" "Absolutely." " England makes trouble there, does she not?"' Diplomatically avoiding any direct reply to this query, His Excellency said: — "It sec-ins a terrible pity to cause delays by working up fresh objections when everything appears to be ready for a settlement. On such occasions tins action means the tenewal of communication with the home Governments and consequent delay." " And Germany, is she not making trouble by delays and by sending wild expeditions up country and incensing the people?" Here was another too-pointed question, ■which he adroitly parried. " Germany, I think, is all right now. Expeditions for chastising the people are always dangerous. Home are killed, but the remainder become brigands, and therefore sources of danger." The truth is that I did not get a direct answer from His Excellency, and did not care to push the point further. The prevailing opinion here is that England, by hindering a settlement, on all kinds of pleas, and Germany, by her aggressive tactics, are making delays which are likely to become interminable. After reflecting a while the statesman said : — " To my mind, a loan bv even a number of the Powers, say, a majority of them. would meet the case. What better guarantee could be desired? Moreover, China could thus get the money upon much easier terms —say, at about 4 per cent.—than she could if left to raise it herself. Delay at the present moment is particularly vexatious. Here we are in May, and in June nothing more can be done." " On account of the rains?" " Yes. Don't you remember that last year in the. month of June we could not get backward or forward? It will be the same thing again, unci after that who can say how long the delay may be? Delay means vast expense." "And, I""take it, further consequent increase in the amount of indemnity to be asked?" " Yes : presumably so." "What about Manchuria?" "The time to make objection was when the concession was made, years ago. Does any one suppose that any country is going to build a railway through such a country and leave it unprotected 01 to be wrecked wherever wild hordes of brigands choose to operate? Besides," said His Excellency, after a pause, "I consider that the Siberian railroad is of the highest importance to the commerce of the world." " And especially to America?" " Yes." he replied, in significant tones, " especially to America." " That is the view thinking Americans take." I said. "Americans are quite right. The Americans are a shrewd and clever race. Thoy show it in their policy, which I call a sensible policy. The Siberian railway being, so to speak, a belt of the world, is sure to be of great assistance to American commerce, which already flourishes here in a very successful manner."

On the matter of the constant attacks upon Russia, in the English press my interlocutor said lie had noticed the special virulence of ihe Times of late, and could not exactly account for it. He laughed when told of the recent Times telegram describing St. Petersburg as almost, panic stricken, with hundreds of arrests taking place. He did not think such idle assertions worth notice.