AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9400, 9 April 1902, Page 3

AFFAIRS IN CHINA.

THE REBELLION SPREADING

RUSSIA AND MANCHURIA

GERMANY'S BAD FAITH AT

TIENTSIN.

(Per R.M.S. Ventura at Auckland.)

SAN FRANCISCO, March 20.

Latest advices from Hongkong declare that the rebellion is spreading in the provinces' of Kwangsi, Kwangtung, and Yunan. At Feng-sheng the rebels have defeated General Maki, killed of captured all Mandarins, and looted the town. General Ma attacked the rebel stronghold, but after two days' fighting was forced to retreat. Many Imperial soldiers are joining the rebels, owing to the superior pay offered them, and the opportunity for looting.

Coincident with this news, the Foreign Office in London has issued a Blue-book dealing with the protracted negotiations between China and the Powers between March 28 of last year and the signing of the protocol in September. There is ample evidence that the negotiations formed one of the most intricate webs of internal differences in the history of the. world. It appears that Great Britain and the 'United States continually worked hnnd-in-hand. Though opposed by all the other Powers in most cardinal points, Anglo-American diplomacy .triumphed, though the American proposal to submit the indemnity question to the Hague Court of Arbitration met with a refusal on all sides, including Great Britain.

The Blue-book contains only one important reference to Manchuria. The British Ambassador at St. Petersburg, writing fo Lord Lansdowne, quotes* Count Lansdorff on April 12, 1901, as saying that the Czar adhered unswervingly to his intention frankly and frequently declared to withdraw Rifssian troops and restore Manchuria to its former Chinese ad'.ninistration as soon as the condition of the country and re-instatement at Pekin of a legitimate, independent, central Government, capable of maintaining order in the Empire, permitted Russian evacuation. What lies at the root of the present maladministration is .the sale of posts, with a, really nominal salary, which compels the Mandarins to accept irregular sources of income. If China succeeds in shaking off this incubus she will have achieved what no nation afflicted with a similar curse had ever accomplished. A despatch from Washington, dated Ma,rch 18th, says official disapproval has been expressed by the United States for the refusal of Germany to evacuate Tientsin. China has appealed to the Powers to name <i date when she is to resume control of the city, and renewed efforts will be made by Secretary Hay to bring thi« about as early as possible. The question is an important one, because it is generally understood that continued opposition will have a decidedly unfavorable effect upon the Chinese. They have kept their part of the bargain as stated in the protocol signed by the Powers last September, and the authorities believe it only just that the allies should carry out the pledges they made. Germany is the single Power opposed to the abandonment of "an allied Government nr Tientsin and return of the city to the Chinese authorities. Great Britain is anxious to withdraw her troops. France announces she will withdraw the forces she has at that point back to her Tonquin possessions. Japan has instructed her troops to return home. Neither Russia nor the United States is represented by military at Tientsin. In official circles here the opinion is strong that Germany intends to maintain a foroe at that point until China grants her additional concessions at Shantung. This was her policy before the uprising, when in 1899 the Li Yamen had authorised railway concessions.