London, 6th April.
In the House of Commons yesterday, Mr. A. J. Balfour, Acting Secretary' of State for Foreign Affairs, made his promised. statement regarding the. policy of the Government in the Far Eist'and what came of it. Ho stated that the impossibility of submitting papers during tha continuance of negotiations, combined with the extraordinary and unaccountable parnlysis of China, had: provoked' attacks upon the Government. Her Majesty's Ministers had, however, adhered strictly to the policy, announced by hit (Mr. Balfour) at Manchester on the 11th of January. He had stated on that occasion that Great Britain's interests in that quarter' of the globe were of a commercial rather that of A territorial character, and that while the Government desired freedom of trade' with China for the whole' world, she~ would' resist all attempts on the' part' of othet™ Powers to destroy what he described as an "equality of opportunity to all countries." In pursuance of that policy Groat Britain had, said Mr. Balfour, already obtained great' commercial concessions. Clermeiniy's interests, he continued, were' absolutely identical with those of Great Britain, while, with regard to Russia, the Government did not believe that: that country would in any way interfere with Britain's treaty rights, while her policy of railway extension in Bai churia and of open ports was calculated rove highly beneficial to commerce. ff Russia remained satisfied' with' the occupation of Chinese. ports which were either ice-bound or held under conditions which required freedom of trade, the balance of power would be. undisturbed: Believing that the occupation of Port Arthur by Russia. would prove a constant menace to Peking, Lord Salisbury had offered that if Russia would agree to abstain from occupying that port, Great Britain would not seek to occupy any port in the Gulf of Pechili. Russia, however, refused to agree to this proposal, with the result that-Great Britair had secured a lease of Weihaiwei on the same terms and conditions as those upon which Russia had occupied Port Arthur. Regarding the relative strategical merits.of Port Arthur and Weihaiwei, Mr. Balfour e: pressed the view that although the Intter possessed less natural strength, it was capable of azormmodating larger ships and a larger Military and Naval force. Moreover by the occupation of Weihaiwei by Great Britain the Gulf of Pechili was revented from falling under Russia's undisputed domination and control. In conclusion, Mr. Balfour said the Government were hopeful of the Chinese Empire being opened to universal trade, and that Groat Britain would still maintain a real suzerainty over the country. Failing this, the, Powers commercially: interested might, concluded Mr. Balfour, be.counted upon to constitute an alliance which would prevent China from falling a prey to the exclusive interests of any Power. At tho: conclusion of his voluminous statement Mr.
Balfour was greeted with loud cheers.
Sir William Harcourt, the leader of the Opposition, replying. to Mr. Balfour's statement regarding affairs in Eastern Asia, declared that the Government had abandoned its policy of equality of opportuity" in favour of one of rival occupa-
Mr. G. N. Curzon, Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, said that Weihaiwei was a favourable port for observation, and that, therefore, its occupation would facilitate the policy of the open door." Continuing, he said that. Russia had explicitly admitted the right of British warships to enter Port Arthur. Lil added that the British occupation of Well i had not disturbed either Japan or G many.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.