THE contingent expected from It is quite clear that the other Shanghai, comprising the 14th Sik' Foreign Powers, including Japan, the Ist Bengal Lancers, and eight could not have taken the umbrage Pompous, is detailed for the lines of they have done at the Manchurian communication. It is understood Convention if it went no further that these troops will relieve the than Count Lamsdorfi's account of \Tmperial Se ice force, which will He makes it out to be simply an arrangement in the nature of a modus vivendi between the Russian military authorities in Manchuria and the Chinese officials, of an entirely temporary character. But since the 6th of February the articles of the Convention have been made public, and they fully bear out the description of it repudiated by Count Lamsdorti, that it is "a Convention, or permanent arrangement, which would give Russia new rights and a virtual Protectorate in Southern Manchuria."
How are we to reconcile these contradictory statements? It will be noticed that there is not a word in Count Lamsdorff's assurances to Sir Charles Scott in reference to the mining and other privileges reserved to Russia by this Convention, which reservation, as we have shown before, is in direct contravention of existing treaties. We must suppose, then, that the "London and China Express" is right in explaining that the statement of Count Lamsdorff applies to the agreement stated to have been concluded by Admiral Alexieff in January last. Since then, says the "London and China Express," another and more formal document has been reported as in negotiation between russia and China, and it is against the latter, which is patently in contradiction with Count Lamsdorff's assurances, that the protest of the Powers has been directed.
In its leading article headed " Russia and Manchuria," from which we have already quoted, the "London and China Express" puts the question of the Manchurian Convention return to India. This force was sent out by some of the more enterprising Indian princes, and their service in China has given the world another proof of the potentialities of a thoroughly federated Empire, and is thus an object lesson of undoubted lue. Nothing could better show how well England has learnt from Rome the art of welding diverse and once hostile peoples into an Imperial consolidation.
At an important meeting of the military authorities, held on the 6th instant, under the presidency of Field-Marshal Count von Waldersee, the whole situation was discussed. As a result definite proposals, regarding the action necessary during the transition period, the reduction of the present forces, the demolition of forts, and kindred matters, were agreed upon for submission to the Ministers. The adoption of these proposals will immediately affect the present occupation. All these proposals, however, are based on the expectation that the Court will return before long to Peking. Another meeting will have to be held before long to determine if and how the Court is to be persuaded to return, and what new measures are to be taken if Peking ceases to be the capital of China. It must be remembered that if the Allies accept the refusal of the Court to return and evacuate Peking, that might be enough to induce the Court to change its mind and again make Peking the capital.
The birthday of Count von Waldersee was to be made the occasion of honorific demonstrations. The
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.