THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2455, 3 April 1901, Page 25

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

IN TEKNATIOKAL TROUBLES. INSULTS TO BKITISH OFFICE KS RUSSIA AND MANCHUKIA. OPPOSITION TO THE MANCHUliIAN CONVENTION. JAPAN ON THE WATCH. NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA SUSPENDED. JAPANESE INFLUENCE INCREASING. - JAPANESE ENTHUSIASM. LONDON, March 25. Takaaki Kato, the Japanese Minister of foreign Affairs, states that Count yon Bulow's strange construction of the AngloGerman agreement did not concern Japan, whose Government adhered to tie plain and unmistakable meaning of the agreement. The Ministers of Great Britain, Germany, France, and Japan at Peking are making an examination into the resources of China in relation to the payment of the indemnities demanded by the Allies. Brigands recently murdered Mr Stoneihouse, of the London Missionary Society, 14 miles eastward of Tientsin. March 26. A Reuter's message states that an affray occurred amongst the European troops at Tientsin, during which two Welsh Fusiliers and one of the Victorian naval contingent "were sabred and bayoneted. Geimans were the principal culprits. The French troops covertly insult British officers at every opportunity. The civilians and military at Tientsin gave the Australian contingent a grand send-off, General Campbell publicly thanking and complimenting them. The Peking correspondent of The Times reports that Russia refuses to extend the time for affixing the signatures to fhe Manchurian agreement be^agd to-day. Li Hung Chang urges thelfemperor to an immediate .compliance with the Russian demand. The declaration of Count yon Bulow that Germany was indifferent as to the future of Manchuria embarrasses those Powers who protested against the signing of the agreement. The New York Tribune affirms that America refused to protest against the agreement, notwithstanding the warning ,she had received from several of the Powers that Russia's action would lead to the disintegration of China. The Shanghai correspondent of The Times states that he has the best authority for declaring that the Imperial Court had finally decided to refuse to sign the agreement. The Viceroys of the southern provinces vigorously oppose the ratification of the Manchurian agreement A great meeting of the Chinese gentry, merchants, and literati at Shanghai have decided upon a similar course. Sir Robert Hart has advised Li Hung Chang to provide the indemnity by means of slamp duties and taxes on houses ard native opium. Great Britain opposes any increase in the tariff at treaty ports. March 27. H.M.S. Terrible has been ordered from Amoy to Taku. Th? text of a Chinese decree which has been published says that a powerful warning was given to China an February 18 of xhe extreme danger of making secret treaties involving the alienation or control of territory without the approval of all parlies. . Several newspapers and N«w York merchants complain of Mr Hay's recent refusal to protest against Russia's action in regard to Manchuria. An Imperial edict published at Sian-fu orders that the Manchwrian Convention be not signed on the day fixed by Russia. There is much enthusiasm at Hankow among the notables and gentry, who are protesting against the convention and raising funds to oppose Russian aggression. The Times Shanghai correspondent says that the Chinese Court are seriously contemplating the removal of th« capital from Peking. Mr Stonehou»e, of the London Missionary Society, was murdered while distributing relief. A Reuter's message states that China has not yet rejected the Manchurian convention, but that she objects to many of the clauses. These are now being discussed. March 28. The Viceroys of the Yang-t&e provinces, backed by the whole of the central provinces, have memorialised the Throne in the strongest terms not to sign the Manchurian convention. The Times Peking correspondent states that nothing is authoritatively known there, though there are persistent reports that China has rejected the convention. Reports received in Washington state that Sir E. Satow has protested against China negotiating territorial or financial concessions until the present crisis is settled. Private Bennett, of the New South Wales contingent, died in China. Eight anti-Christian rioters have been beheaded at Changsha, in the province of Hunan. The Standard's Berlin corespondent says

that Count Waldersee's action in connection «ith the disputed railway siding at Tientsin will be limited to the prevention of a military conflict. Diplomacy be^veen Britain -c/aA Russia will have to settle tho ownership of the land. March 29. Six viceroys and seven governors have protested against the Manchurian Convention. The Chinese Imperial Couit is considering the question of removal to Kai-fing-fu. In the House of Commons Viscount Cranborne stated thai M'Cleary and Brown Kvere not dismissed by the Coiean Government. A settlement with regard to the matter was probable. The Marouis of Lansdowne stated that the Anglo-German agreement applied to all Chine., including Manchuria. Great Britain was indisposed to carpingly criticise Russian arrangements to temporarily protect her interests in Manchuria. The published versions of the convention appeared to infringe on British rights there and elsewhere. It would be wiser for Russia to publish the text of the convention, thus dissipating suspicions. Meanwhile, Great Britain asd Germany advised China to refrain, from private and separate agreements | with any individual Power. Japan is gratified at the Biitish assurance that,, contrary to Count Yon Bulow's ; statement, Manchuria is included in the scope of the Anglo-German Agreement. The Chinese reformers are arranging for a provincial meeting to protest against the Manchurian Convention. The movement constitutes the most notable event in their history. A regiment of Sikhs, with eight pompoms, is leaving Shanghai to guard the Tientsin railway. The Japanese troops in Chih-li province have been strengthened to the extent of 50 per cent. Ov. Ing to representations to China by Japan that the other Powers are against carrying on two sets of negotiations, China has suspended negotiations with. Russia for an amendment of the Manchurian Con-vention-until the negotiations with the Allies are completed. The Standard states that reports are current in Nankin that Li Hung Chang will be Chinese Foreign Minister after the Tsung-li-Yamen hss been abolished, Liv Kunyi succeeding Li Hung in the viceroyalty of the province Chih-li. | April 1. • Japan made direct representations to St. | Petersburg against the Manchurian conveni tion. Japantse opinion vehemently supports the Cabinet. The latter are acting prudently and pacifically, but they are impressed with the national enthusiasm, [ which would be uncontrollable if there were any undue yielding /to Ressia. The Seoul-Pusan railway loan was covered many times at Tokio. ST. PETERSBURG, March 27. The newspaper Tv'ovosti tays that a Russo-Japanese allimce is desirable, even at the cost of ths partition of China. TOKIO, March 28. The Marquis Ito, Premier of Japan, addressing his parliamentary supporters at Yokohama, s>iid it was impossible to deny that Japan felt the complication in China created by Russia or to ignore the clouds on the horizor.