THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6133, 21 March 1898, Page 3

THE CRISIS IN CHINA.

PEEPOSTEROUS DEMANDS BY FRANCE. THE BRITISH REPLY. RUSSIA'S WITHDRAWAL PROM COREA. United Press 4 ssociation-By Electric TelegraphCopyright. Beceived March 20, 4.45 p.m. LONDON, March 18. France demands that China shall not alienate the territory south of the Yang-tae-kiang. This is done with a view to blocking British extension from Kowloon, which, was ceded to Britain in 1861, and also to obstruct the Burmese railway extension granted to Great Britain through Yunnan. Beceived March 2G, 5.15 p.m. March 19. Tenders for the Chinese loan will be opened on Tuesday. London and Berlin financiers have favourably received it, and the price of the loan has been fixed at 90. France also demands the cession or! a coaling station at Kwanchou, and the prolongation of the Laokai railway in the French sphere of Toaquin into Yunnan. The STimes referring to the French demands in ;;reg!ard ;ss^ojwipofifttiate* that th;ey; fiitow^the pecessifcy of Ing -tlie'e^panOTon nieiit of ; Hobgkofi Home aittt^ci^i^^hen^Cliinaj at tile; instigation ; of^ 'FVafeicei gave \ Great Britain the right to demand compensation for breach of the Burmese agreement. H owever, owing to procrastination the Imperial Government is now confronted with an attempt by France to steal a march, and it is necessary to make China understand that worse things would happen than the occupation of Hainan if she yielded to the French demands. TOKIO, March 19. Russia has withdrawn from the control of Corea, in response to pressure by Japan. In the event, however, of Corea failing to maintain its independence, Russia will again intervene. Alexieff, the Russian financial agent, has, accordingly, been recalled. The Japanese elections have resulted . in a small majority for the Government. PEKIN, March 19. The French Ambassador at Pekin, on his lastvisit to the Tsungli Yamen, or Chinese Council of Foreign Affairs, when the demands of France were refused, threatened active operations from Tonquin and the seizure of a coaling station. Beceived March 21, 9 turn. LONDON, March 20. France has also demanded exclusive $|^^^roj^jgaAion-r of : ;##^Laokm; ■$©ma;no%fi /,i the^^t)^ Fr&ichiaan; as ■<# ' : sbs: $hinte«e