Of course what everybody was most anxious to know about was the Russo-Chi agreement with regard 10 Manchuria on this Lord Landsowne did not throw much light. The Foreign office has no official knowledge of the terms of the proposed agreement. "Ww havescen a great many different versions of th- terms of the alleged agreement," he said, some of them having the appearance of authenticity. But we cannot take upon ourselves t" say that riy of these versions ix correct, ax tu the demands which have been mad: by Ru: or the replies of China, and therefore [ann quite unable ty pas any final opinion on the matter." Lord Landsowne went on to show pretty clearly, however, that the Government have a very good idea ut wh: the terms of the treaty really are. However, lis invited Russia to state them frankly, ani promised the support of the British' vernment in securing its settlement if it should prove to be as undhjectionable as Count—Lamsdorff has repres to be. Meanwhile it has been to Chinn that it is not desir: while she is negotiating with all the Powers wie should enter into private aod separate arrangements—involvin her territory and her financial condition with any individual Power, In the House of Commons Sir Ellis Ashnead-Bartlett criticised the Government and reviewed the course of events in China in a speech which would have been very effective if it had been delivered by any one else. But Sir Ellis, as Viscount Cranborne reminded the House—thn gh it certainly did not need the reminder—is so permeated with the one idea that Russia is the root of all evil that he obtains no tention even when by chance he speaks words of wisdom. Lord jame defended the Government in " speech of considerable ability which has gone far to justify Lord Salisbury in his latest family pointment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.