The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1900.

Waikato Argus, Volume IX, Issue 769, 2 October 1900, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE, Proprietor. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 1900.

The Chinese question is very critical. It appears to be quite impossible to gauge the position. Never before have the European Powers been in such an embarrassing position. Li Hung Chang, who appears to be the most powerful and influential man in China, is supporting Russia. Eussia bus- annexed Manchuria, is plotting to get complete control of the Northern Railway, and the " open door " in its fulless sense is athing of the past. It will be remembered that the United States Government, some time back, took this matter up and secured assurances of definite adherence to the open door from every nation except Russia, who only returned a vague and unsatisfactory answer. She states now that the annexation of Manchuria is transitory and purely strategic. This, of course, is all nonsense, where once the Bear places his paw that territory is Russian, unless some unforeseen circumstance arises which renders it either judicious or compulsory to retire. The question now arUes is, is it too Jate to bring about the united action of the other Powers to secure a general declaration of open trade policy for all China for ever, which no Power would abrogate except by force of arms. Britain is the paramount Power in China and should take the initiative, and it appears to us that the self interest of Germany, Japan, Italy and the United States would lead them to enter into such a convention.

The policy of Britain with regard to China has not been as strong as that which usually characterises a Conservative Government. A writer in the Nineteenth Century says : The list of further failures of our diplomacy in the Far East is far too long to pursue, but one or two others must be mentioned, We offered a large loan to China and strongly urged her to accept it. Russiaforbadeherandshedeclinedit. British capital was provided to build the railway from Pekin to Niu-Chwang ; Russia protested, we wrote many strongly worded depatches ; and then accepted the Russian insistence that the loan should not give the right to any lien upon the railway. The country became uneasy at the apparent neglect; of our interests in the Yangtse Valley, but was relieved by the Government's assurance that, an undertaking had been given by the Chinese Government safeguarding these interests. Three and a-half months later that undertaking was issued to the public, but was immediately withdrawn because the ollicial copy contained Mr Ourzoii's private marginal notes." The Times, commenting on this incident, wrote: " Perhaps our llght-heartdd Under-Secretary of State would not mind even the ridicule with which his carelessness has covered him if it helped to divert public attention from the substance of these documents, In fact this assurance upon which Ministers

have so often prided themselves as one of the great achievements of British policy in the Far East turns out to be no assurance at all. Ho man in private life would invest a single sovereign on the strength of a declaration so evasive and illusory. This is nothing more than an academic expression of opinion which commits the Chinese Goventment to nothing. It might change its opinion to-morrow and cede half the valley ; yet, were this a transaction between individuals to he submitted to an ordinary tribunal we should be simply laughed out of Court if we pretended to found a claim upon such a simulacrum of an assurance."

We have, without doubt, been outwitted in diplomacy or what is quite probable, the British Ministry for reasons of State thought it diplomatic to appear to be so owing to complications in other parts of the world. In any case, there is danger that the days when diplomacy can put the Chinese question ona properbasis have passed and that Britain may yet be compelled with such allies as fall to her lot to use force to secure without question the rights of the nation. The picture is a horrible one to contemplate, n world at war is involved.