But what has exasperated Russian statesmen and diplomat.sts of late more than anything else has been Lord Charles Beresford's tour in China. It is impossible to convince them that Lord Charles' mission was purely commercial and absolutely unofficial. "As no Russian officer and politician would dream of attempting such a mission except under the direct orders, open or secret, of those in authority over him, they cannot realise that such a thing is possible in this country. They point out that, at the very time while hegotintions were in progress at home for a friendly agreement in regard to China, Lord Charles was going from port to port in China, received everywhere with marked honour by British Consuls and Vice-Consuls, and delivering, sometimes in their presence, strong. Anti-Russian speeches. Lord Charles Beresford has not yet delivered his report to the Associated Chambers of Commerce which dispatched him to the Far East; but it may be doubted whether he will be able, by means of his flying visit to the Far East, to give them any information of value as to our trade with China which they might not hare obtained through the ordinary channels.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.