CHINA AND THE POWERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 48

CHINA AND THE POWERS

WITHDRAWAL. OF FRENCH troops: LONDON, February 27, In the House of Commons Viscount Cranhome, Under-Secret ary for Foreign Affairs, said that the undertaking given by . Russia that her administration in Manchuria would be only temporary and provisional was, only a verbal undertaking. : The “Standard” states that trustworthy reports have been received that Princes. Tuan, Lan and. Chuangf and General Tung-fu-hsien have taken refugo at Ning-hia, on the border of the province of Kan-su, and 1 three hundred miles north-west of Si-ngan-fu. LONDON, February 23 % The Pekin correspondent of “The Times” states that Russia is pressing Yang-yu, the Chinese Minister Plenipotentiary, at St. Petersburg, to sign a further convention strengthening the exclusive Russian protectorate of Manchuria, and granting Russia special privileges in Northern China. Italian cruisers are surveying Nimrod Bay, on the coast of the province of Ohe-kiang. It' is believed that annexation of territory is intended.

Vice-Admiral Sir C. A- G. Bridge., formerly Commander-in-Chief ;tke Australian station, succeeds Admiral Seymour iu command of the .China station. The Pekin-Shanhaikwan railway will remain under British military control until the evacuaion of China. LONDON, March L Russia is pressing Li Hung Gians; to consent to lier demands with reference to Manchuria. Japan, England and another Power have remonstrated against the negotiation of the matter by China with St. Petersburg direct. It is officially stated at Shanghai that Yu-hsien, the Governor of Skan-.si, wias beheaded" at Lan-chau-fu, the capital of the province of Kan-su, on the :22nd February. lA Hai-chun, a protege of Prince Yuan and of Tung-fu-hsiaug, lias started a x«~ bellion at Lan-chau-fu. Arrangements are being made for the withdrawal of ten thousand French troops from China during the present month. The railway workshops at Tongshan. on the Slian-hai-kwaii line, have been restored to British control in a satisfactory state. LONDON, March 2. The Foreign Ministers have -deckled that Italy shall retain the Customs buildings at Pekin, as they are needed for the extension of the fortification ef the Legations’ area. Germany has intimated to Li .Hung Chang that it is inexpedient for China to make separate concessions to -States or companies, giving away -valuable :&s----sets, while her obligations towards Lie Powers collectively 'are not clearly defined.