CHINA

New Zealand Illustrated Magazine, 1 December 1900, Page 250

CHINA

The situation in China has shown no marked alteration during the month. The Power's appear, from the cables, to be unanimous in their demands, and it only remains for these to be accepted and carried out in their entirety to close a page of history which, when it opened, bid fair to lead up to most disastrous complications. But the page has not yet been closed. That the Chinese Government will eventually agree to the demands seems almost assured, but it is not the Chinese nature to act promptly and straightforwardly. Every pretext for delay, every quibble over the smallest detail that can be devised, will be used to the best possible advantage. Li Hung Chang's letter

to a friend, in a late caole, briefly but very clearly expresses the general Chinese sentiment—" Keep quiet ; sit tight ; do nothing. The foreign devils will fight amongst themselves."