THE FAR EAST.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4607, 11 March 1902, Page 4

THE FAR EAST.

Affairs in China are very different to the probabilities of two years ago. Then the “Sick Man” of China was in the throes of what might have been, made his last agony by a unanimous congress of the world’s Powers. But the Powers were not unanimous, and China was saved from partition, and perhaps from an awakening to useful national life. Since the decisive effort of the Chinese party of retrogression failed before the armed force of the foreigner, things have been gradually settling themselves. It appeared at first probable that the Powers, no longer having the Chinaman tSi fight with, would have turned their

arms against one another. For a time, indeed, there was a good deal of unrest about the pretensions of Russia in Manchuria. and the manner, at once highhanded and deceptive, in which they were sustained. When Li Hung Chang died, it was widely feared that this Russian disturbance might bo fatal to the peace of mankind. Rut the diplomatists, who seem to bo as jealous of publicity as the British military authorities in South Africa, and a great deal more sensible in occasionally availing themselves of that great searchlight, let small parts of their secrets gradually get out, until the world saw there was no longer any danger, even though the, troops of the international army might fight with each other with unofficial deadliness. Then came the AngloJapaneso treaty, which took the world much by surprise. But to-day the world is as greatly, but far more agreeably, astonished to learn that this famous treaty was shown all round before the signatories affixed their names and seals thereto. The last news is that the only reason which prevents the evacuation of Tientsin is the insistence by the German Government on some concession to German interests in the Shantung province, which we all remember as the first fruit of tho “mailed fist.” Wo are informed at the same time that neither in Manchuria nor in any other concession tho Russians may obtain will there bo any “open door.” At the same time the Anglo-Japanese alliance stands waiting for Germany’s satisfaction to give up the great Chinese emporium on the Poiho. It is clear that in a short time Germany will he satisfied, probably at a sacrifice of at least pretensions, and that all tho Powers will thereupon return to something like the “status quo,” with this important difference, that the dominating factor will be, not the Court of St. Petersburg, but the AngloJapanese alliance.