CHINA AND THE POWERS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4310, 20 March 1901, Page 5

CHINA AND THE POWERS

RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA. NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MUSCOVITE. (Received March 19, 10.40 p.m.) LONDON. March 19. Wu-tiug-fang, the Chinese Minister at Washington, lias been, instructed to advise the Court, whether the Manchurian agreement is inimical to Chinese interests. Colonel John Hay, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, has informed Wu-ting-fang that it is urgent America should know Russia’s intentions. (Received March 19, 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, March 19. Reuter’s Agency learns in London that the assurances of {fount Lamsdorff, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs to Sir Charles S. Scott (British Ambassador at St. Petersburg), on the 6th inst., (referred to the agreement on November 22ud between Admiral Aiexieff and Tung with regard to Port Arthur, and not to the St. Petersburg agreement, which was received in Pekin on February 23rd, and which strengthened the Russian protectorate over Manchuria, and gave Russia special privileges in Northern China. If the assurances on the 6th inst. that Russia was not engaged in negotiations wore true, a new treaty must have been arranged during the fortnight following. This is gravely doubted. Xt is believed tlinfc nogotuitions, wore l 1 progressing long before the 6th inst..

A HUSSO -G EH MAN TREATY. (Received March 20, 1.5 a.m ) LONDON, March 19. Uic Berlin correspondent of “The Times says there* is a well-founded’ audi widespread belief in Berlin in the existence of a Russo-German treaty, containing mutual assurance on Chinese questions. DISORDERLY FRENCHMEN. (Received! March 19, 10.50 p.m.) „ , ~ . LONDON, March 19. Forty disorderly French soldiers have been arrested at Tientsin. APPEAL OF THE, CHINA LEAGUE. The China League, in view of the absorption of the Manchurian provinces hy Rus-■-*'issued the following appeal:—• ~ ,' s t° the east, to the vast territories ot China, where a third of the human race now dives under conditions of restricted development, that we must look for the most important expansion of British commerce, China of to-day, commercially speaking, lies fallow; its possibilities

are almost unrealised, its potential wealth immense. It should therefore be the first aim and object of the British Government and people to preserve intact our trading r i s 7,i . thvoughout ihe length and breadth of Chinese territory. It is then obvious that the interests of China and of the Bri- j tish Empire alike imperatively demand the preservation of the territorial integrity of the Chinese Empire and of the ' open door ’ for trade. Looked at from this standpoint the loss of the Manchurian proyinces is a matter of vital importance to the future trade of Great Britain. Manchuria absorbed hy Russia, as there seems every likelihood will be the case, must inevitably become closed to our commerce. At a. time when the future of China hangs in the balance, when the maintenance of our position and trade in that empire (that la to say, the welfare of Great Britain in years to cornel depends on the immediate policy of Her Majesty's Government and the action of the British representative in the concert of the Powers at Pekin; at such a time the Imperial Parliament, its attention apparently con centrated on personal explanations of unimportant matters, enunciates no policy on the far eastern Question, statesmen on both sides of the House, and publicists of all shades of opinion .remain silent in regard to the crisis, offering no solution calculated to protect British interests. A debate on the Chinaquestion -attracts Idas attention than a minor question of parochial government. That this is So is obviously flue fy the fact that, th© country and,its legislators' Lave failed to realise the vast issues at stake. It is for the people of Great Britain justly to appreciate'the value, present and future, of our trade with China, and the importance of preserving in "their integrity our Political and commercial interests from "Kirin, to Canton, from Shangha to the borders of Thibet.” I