THE EASTERN CRISIS.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 469, 19 February 1898, Page 3

THE EASTERN CRISIS.

Shanghai reports that China offered Britain, instead of opening Talienwan Bay, two inland ports in the province of Hunan, access to which can be obtained by Yangtszekiaug and its tributaries. China also offers Britain the appointment of a general, who will be empowered to raise an army of sixty thousand men with its headquarters at Penayong ready to defend Pekin. Eussia is negotiating with the Porte for leave to take through the Bosphbros from the Black' Sea a cruiser destined for China.

The British battleship Victorious, Tfhich a few days ago was despatched from Malta for China, is ashore at Port Said. '

With reference to the alleged purchase of 50,000 tons of coal by Eussia at Odessa, several Russian naval officers have been arrested for deception in connection with tho affair.

It was recently announced that tho Chinese Government had .granted Britain tho right to construct a railway from Mandalay through the province of Yunan. The Standard states that China now proposes that the railway should touch the Yangtsekiang, Mekong, and Sikiang Eiyers, so as to give England control of the trade of the .sotvt^ern provinces. Reuter% message from Pekin states that a secret treaty has been entered into between China and Eussia which does not prevent the rising of a loan from abroad for the construction of the Manchurian railway.