15th April, Ir we are asked how near we think the Allies are to effecting a conclusive and permanent settlement of the troubles in the North, we find it very difficult to give a satisfactory or even hopeful answer. As we have seen in the past, the dispute with China would probably have been settled before this if only one or two Western Powers, acting honestly together as England and France did forty years ago, had been concerned in the negotiations; but with eight Powers concerned whose interests are not at all the same, the difficulty becomes so great that we only wonder that there has not been an actual rupture between them before this. It is now semi-officially announced that Russia has all along been playing her own game without much regard to the wishes of her nominal partners; and not only is the chief negotiator on the Chinese side, Li Hung-chang, fully conscious of the value to China of disagreements between the Powers, but he has reasons convincing to himself for promoting the aims of Russia. as much as possible. The knowledge of this has induced one or more of the Powers to address their communications with the Court through the much more friendly and trustworthy Viceroy at Nanking, an eminently patriotic and high-minded official, who has from the beginning recognised the folly and danger of the course pursued by the Manchu ring who have been advising if not controlling the Empress Dowager, and has convinced himself that the prosperity of China depends on the maintenance of friendly relations with all the Western Powers including Japan, and that the granting of the concessions to Russia supported by Li Hung-chang must prove fatal to the peace and integrity of the Empire.
The high position occupied by BLE. Liu Kun-yi makes Nanking 2 point of greater importance than ever at the present moment; and some news which reaches us from an important source at the southern capital is worthy of serious consideration by all who are longing for an early settlement of the present complications. We suggested some months ago when we first heard of the propositions to convert the Legation area at Peking! into a fortress, destroy all the Chinese defences between Peking and the sea, and erect forts manned by foreign troops in their place, that these expedients seemed likely to defeat one of the main purposes of the allies, to secure the early return of the Emperor of China to his northern capital. This is the more to be regretted because we have reason to believe that the Empress Dowager and her unfortunate nephew have a real longing to get back to their homes in the Imperial City. The statement is made in Nanking now that it is rather absurd of the Allies to make all this display of constructing fortifications at Peking until they know whether the Court is coming back; this statement, we learn, is based on a telegram from a high Chinese official at Peking, who says that the Court has no intention of returning at present, and that "the trouble in the North is far from being at an end" It has been already mentioned in our columns that the notorious coward Chang Pei-lun has been restored to imperial favour in order that he may "assist his father-in-law," Li Hung-chang; and we may now add that he is to be appointed Chinese Minister to Corea in order chat he may assist his father-in-law by furthering the interests of Russia.
The information that follows we publish with all reserve because it has recently been stated in what should be well-informed quarters that all fears of a conflict between Japan and Russia have now been dissipated. We are told then that the Chinese Minister at Tokio has telegraphed to ELE. Liu Kun-yi, the Viceroy, that war between Japan and Russia is inevitable. This is confirmed from other sources, and a statement is also made that Japan has applied to the Viceroy for his "help." It is clearly understood in Nanking that Japan does not want any of the Viceroy's soldiers, though they are believed to be among the best in China; nor does she want guns or ammunition, for with these Japan is better supplied than China; therefore the help required must, it seems, be moral.
At the beginning of the present troubles in China, we urged that the Emperor should be restored to power, with Nanking as his capital. Russia was said to be strongly opposed to this, as she liked to have the Court more readily within her reach than it would be on the Yangtze. The logic of events is now making Nanking the most important centre in China, and HE. Liu Kun-yi_ the official to be most considered. It is well understood that Russia is anxious to see the Empress Dowager in power again, and there are reasons which seem valid to France for supporting Russia in this. But we trust that England and the United States, with Germany and Japan, will firmly oppose the renewed infliction of this calamity on China; and we would strenuously recommend their seriously entertaining once more the change of the capital to Nanking. We are assured that the alternative is not Peking but Hsian, or some other inaccessible city in the West.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.