So far as anything leaks out, the situation in Peking is ye b critical, There was to be [na an audience of Foreign Representatives in the Capital to-day, but this would not affect the political conditions probably. Falling in with an English-speaking Chinese a few days sgo who had just been in attendance upon one of the higher Peking officials, he stated his impression of the attitude of the Powers, as gathered from what he saw and heard, thus: Russia hss threatened China about as follows: i "We are friends, but if you give the Loan 189 to England we shall not be friends, and you must take the ences." China then tures to England and says: "This is what our friend and northern neighbour says, what do you propose to do for us in this emergency?" She has not the sense, as this man well said, to see that her only salvation is in England, that with millions depending on the integrity of the Empire, the development of its resources ani an enlarging trade, England would not give her up for nothing, and that with the active sympathy of Japan as well, and the moral dismemberment of the country, Russi would port of the United States against an:
Very naturally China wants some backing; wants some one else to take the responsibility and do her Sighting for her; and equally natural it is that England is not going to pledge anything in a case of such utter imbebility and unwillingness to attempt anything on the part of the applicant; especially when the applicant cannot or will not see what is to own advantage This appears to be the situation as nearly as can be made out. It certainly is very critical, and is beyond the foresight of any one to tell the outcome. Russia and France
Germany has seized the opportunity an have been compelled to show their hand profited thereby under a false pretext. We can only wait for the next move—will it be checkmate on Russia?
16th February.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.