THE CRISIS IN THE FAR EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 13

THE CRISIS IN THE FAR EAST.

— *~ — London, March 15. j Mr Corzon/Parliamentaiy Secretary to the i Foreign Office, announced that the Thames I Ironworks Company was negotiating for a I contract with Russia for the construction of > - & dockyard in tbe Baltic. No decision has J yet been arrived at. | The Daily Telegraph states that tbe * Chinese loan will be offered on the 22nd 1 inst. March 15. A Renter's telegram from Pekin states that ! there is no foundation for the statement that Sir Claude Mac Donald had protested against leasing Fort Arthur to Russia. March 18. France demands that China shall not ! alienate the territory south of the Yang-tse-kiang. This is done with a view to blocking the British extension from Kowloon, which was ceded to Great Britain in " 1861, and also to obstruct tbe Burmese rail- j way extension granted to Britain through i Yunnan. France also demands the cession 1 of a coaling station at KowacchoT and the prolongation of tbe Laokai railway in French sphere in Tonkin to Yunna. The Times, referring to the French demands with regard to the Kowloon State?, shows the necessity for securing the extension which the Government of Hongkong pressed upon the Home authorities when China, at the instigation of France, gave Britain the light to demand compensation for a, breach of tbe Burmese agreement. However, owing to procrastination, the Imperial Government; were now confronted with amattempt by France to steal a march, and it was necessary to make China under- ! stand that worse things would happen than ] jhs occupation of Hainan if she yielded to France. March 19. Tenders for the Chinese loan will be I opened on Tuesday. London and Berlin j financiers favourably receive it. The price of tbe loan is fixed at 90. March 20. ! France has also demanded exclusive mining rights over the area traversed by the prolongation of the Laokai railway in Yunnan, and has demanded the appointment of a Frenchman as director of the Chinese Post Office. Tokio, March 19. Russia has withdrawn from tbe control of Corea in response to pressure by Japan. la the event, however, of Corsa failing to maintain its independence, Russia will again intervene. M. Alexieff, tbe Russian financial agent, has accordingly been recalled. Pekin, March IW. The French Ambassador at Pekin on his last visit to the Tsung-li-Yamen or Chinese^ Council of Foreign Affairs, when the demands" of France were refused, threatened active operations from Tonkin and the seizure of I a coaling station. Sydney, March 15. Dr On Lee, the Chinese medico, has left on a visit to China. In the course of a speech, he said he intended to urge the appointment of a Consul-general for Australia. i After living in the colonies for £0 years he has formed the opinion that China could rest on no better friend than England. It would be his duty to instil, this idea into all the leading men he came in contact with. In New York there is a dog restaurant where people can take their canine favourites to be fed. Upwards of 100 dogs dine there