Show ENGLAND AND RUSSIA the french press apprehends trouble between russia and great britain about china briefly stated the situation Is this some time ago russia obtained a concession from the chinese government to build a branch railroad to connect the trans siberian line with the ports on the Llao Liao tung peninsula leased by russia china too Is building roads with the assistance of british capital one of these thee e Is to run from tien boin the port of southward to near the mouth of the river and will connect the gulf of with the valley of the an extension of this line from tien tain northward to New chwang at the head of the Liao tung gulf will connect the british sphere of influence in the valley with the russian great system of railways in northern asia and it Is concerning this extension that the difficulty between great britain and russia has arisen the southwestern half of the extension from afien tsin to to is under construction A concession for the section from Shan to New chwang has been given to the british hongtong Hong kong and shanghai bank russia objects claiming the right to control this connection was part of the concession for the manchurian railway if the british concession Is persisted in russia threatens to seize chinese territory the british government insists on the concession and promises to support china with all its power in case of encroachment by any foreign power as a consequence of it A short time ago it appeared as if the chinese were willing to listen to english promises in preference to rus ruff sias threats but lately there was S decided turn in the tsung li yamen in favor of russia and now great britain demands the dismissal of li hung chang from power on the ground that he is responsible for the changed pouce it would seem that this should bring matters to a crisis it if great britain must strike for her prestige in the fag east now is the time to do so when the trans siberian line is completed russia will be in a position to dictate terms to her competitors for chinese 4 territory to the united states the struggle 1 toa eastern asia is not without inte interest reft not only has the friendly attitude of at great britain during the war with spain placed the united states under obligations which cannot be ignored but the american trade interests involved are extensive it is no secret that the great commercial powers a are struggling for spheres of influence to secure markets for their own manufactures fac tures to the exclusion of all ot othean heti to our count country ry the english method of keeping the doors open la is the most mog advantageous and it is not that in our own interest some day we re will have to stand up for great britain developments in the past east watched with great interest |