THE CRISIS IN CHINA. A RUSSO-OHINESE AGREEMENT PREPARING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 30

THE CRISIS IN CHINA. A RUSSO-OHINESE AGREEMENT PREPARING.

THE CHINESE COUET STILL OB DU HATE. HONGKONG, October 23. The anti-Manchu rebels have been, welcomed everywhere throughout South China, and are treated as guests by the people. The Allies have agi-eed to acquaint Li Hung Chang that their joint demand for the punishment of the ringleaders must follow the- lines indicated in Hie German Consular Note. October 24. M. Pichon, the French Minister at Peking, is seriously ill. The Germans and British at Shanghai are jubilant over the Anglo-German agreement. Colonel Lome Campbell's force have captured Bifang, which 1000 Imperial Chinese troops had previously evacuated. They found at Menauhsien Prince Tuan's letter ordering the extermination of the expedition among the marshes. October 25. Prince Tuan's appointment of Yuchang as Governor of Hupen is creating alarm lest it is a signal of a Boxer outbreak in the Yangtze provinces. The present Viceroy is friendly. The Powers fear it is intended to undermine them. The German marines defeated the Boxers at Haumi, killing 200. The Shanghai customs authorities propose to raise the direct duties 10 per cent, and other duties 5 per cent. , instead of levying a likin. They expect to raise sufficient to pay an indemnity of 50 millions. October 26. A violent Boxer proclamation has been circulated throughout Lienchau, in Southern China. It blames tiie Emperor for tolerating foreigners.. The French consul at Hankow has secured Imperial protection for the 60 Italian missionaries -who are in the Shensi district. The allied- columns, after converging on Pao-ting-fu, continue their march to Ching-ting-fu, where there ai*e many European missionaries ■ and engineers. The Germans defeated the Imperial troops at Anshu, capturing two Krupps. The death of Kangyi is confirmed. [Kang Vi was a notorious Manchu, the vowed enemy of reformers and foreigners. He' commenced life as an interpreter and clerk, and rose to be Governor of Canton and Shansi and Kiangsu provinces.] One thousand Germans, Russians, and French from Tientsin have gone to Hiangho-paoti in order to protect the Allies' lines of communication against the Boxers. October 27. M. Pichon, the French Minister, is convalescent. The Emperor, in a aeeree, recognises Tung Fuhsiang as guilty of a great crime. During the removal of powder from a magazine, westward of Mukhden, a Chinese infgmal machine exploded, killing 26 Cossablis. MANDALAY, October 24. The party led by Dr Jack, formerly Queensland geologist, who were in the interior of China at the time of the troubles commencing, are marching to Burmah, and have reached Chamo in safety. LONDON, October 23. The Anglo-German agreement is widely discussed. American newspapers describe it as Lord Salisbury's finest masterpiece. It is interpreted in England as a written consecration to the principles which are professed on all sides, and merely complimentary to the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1899. If the open-door policy fail, the spheres of influence of the various countries survive, thus precluding the predominance of any rival. M. Delcasse is favourable to the agreement. He considers only unanimous, strong, and self-denying action can overcome the crisis. The Berlin correspondent of the Standard reports that an Anglo-German. Agreement applicable to other parts of the, world is impending. October 24. The Globe states that Great Britain has leased Port (Jhmgwautao from the harbour works contractors for eight months, the term to commence six weeks from date. The intention is to land stores and troops for Peking at Chingwantao during the winter season, from which by means of a branch to the main trunk railway lino supplies will be forwarded to the capital. Reuter's agent reports that the AngloGerman agreement is not aimed at Russia, and that" the Manchuria railway concessions have not been affected. The main object is to unite the Allies on a basis upholding the integrity of China without reference to the railway arrangements-. The Odessa correspondent of the Daily News learns that the Chinese Ambassador at St. Petersburg and tho Russian Minister oi Foreign Affairs (Count Lamsdorff) had arranged the preliminaries for a RussoChinese agreement. The Standard states that the new German Minister (Dr Mumm) has arrived at Peking, but that he will not proceed vrith peace negotiations _, until Li Hung Chang and Ching provide tittax crcleutiftls, and

enforce the punishment of the ringleaders in the laic outrages. The Times states that Tung-fuh-Siang and the Kar.su soldiers dominate the Court, who show no signs of returning to Peking. Foreign Minisers in China are drawing up conjointly a basis of settlement which will take the form of an ultimatinn. - October 25. The Daily Mail's Shanghai correspondent telegraphs tha.fc Li Hung Chang is trying tc induce the Emperor to promise to return to Peking within the next six weeks. October 27. The London Times states thab Prince Ching and Li Hung Chang have communicated an edict asking the ambassadors to indicate what officials are deserving of punishment, and what form the punishment will take. The Daily News' Berlin correspondent states that the southern viceroys sought and obtained the promise of the Allies of assistance against the court. Admiral Seymour proceeds to Nanking and Wuchang to confer with them. PARIS, October 23. France is sending 3800 troops from Tuni3 to South China. October 24. Lo Temps explains that France prevented the threatened exclusive British military occupation of the Yang-tse Valley, and that Germany hastened to negotiate the present agreement, fearing access to the Yang-tse markets would ultimately be closed. Clause 3of the agreement is intended to enable Great Britain and Germany to mutually partition the Yang-tse region if Eu?sia annexed Manchuria, but Russia -lias not annexed that territory. BERLIN, October 24. It is stated here that the Governments of Russia and France had assented to the Anglo-German agreement before its publication. Hence the annexation of Manchuria had been cancelled. It is also understood that Germany secures commercial facilities in cstrtam British dependencies. October 25. The Emperor, in a speech at the dedication of the Hall of Fame in Bermen (Prussia), expressed the hope that the Anglo-German agreement would remain in operation for the future. It was a guarantee that both countries would co-operate in the open markets o£ the world in a spirit of friendly rivalry, in which there would be no pang of bitterness. ST. PETERSBURG, October 23. Ihe Russian press is sensitive with reference to the Anglo-German agreement, declaring it to ba unjustly suspicious of Russia, the traditional guardian of China's integrity. Some papers declare the partition of China inevitable. The Novoe Vremya declares that territory north of the Peiho River is within the Russian sphere of influence, and that the open-door policy is inadmissible. WASHINGTON, October ?3. Secretary Hay has instructed Mr Conger to demand the abolition of the Tsung-li-Yamen and the appointment of a Minister of Foreign Affairs. FREMANTLE, October 27. Among the passengers by. the Britannia are Long Kaichu, a Chinese reformer, who is associated with KangyuWei, the exiled leader of the reformers last reported as being at Singapore.