We have learnt with satisfaction during the past three days that the representatives of the Powers at Poking have arrived at a "final agreement" as to the demands to be made upon the Court of China. There 's no disagreement here as to the justice of those demands, indeed the only point on hich there has been any real difference of opinion is as to the wisdom of presenting this joint note as a "Decision Irrévocable"™ of the Powers. One recalls rather too vividly a Decision Irrévocable" which waa presented to the Sultan of Turkey by the Powers a few years ago, scarcely 'a single int of which has been carried out to this fay. It has been pointed out that the only thing which can justify the presentation of an "irrevocable" note is a determination on the part of those presenting it to enforce their demands by war. The demands made doubt perfectly just; but are they the absolutely irreducible minimum of what the Powers will accept_as an alternative to sending expeditions into the heart of China, and entering, if necessary, upon a great war? If not, it is contended that it is a mistake for the Powers to declare 80 emphatically that they will refuse to consider any suggestion for a modification of their terms.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.