The Shantung Negotiations Peking, Feb. 25.
The Government has declared that no steps will be taken in connexion with the Shantung issue before the appointment of a responsible Foreign Minister. On the other hand, those whom the government proached with the portfolio desire to know more definitely the policy of the administration on this question. The result is toat no Foreign Minister has been yet secured.
Rumours about the fall of the Chin Cabinet were quite current some time ago. Following the statement by General Tuan Chi that he is willing to support the present administration, their circulation has ceased.
Sir John Jordan, the British Minister, will return to England at the beginning of March. President Hsu Shih-chang held a farewell banquet in his honour last night. General Tuan and the Cabinet officers were present.
t is reported that negotiations vith Japan on the Fukien incident will begin early in March.
Qhina will volunteer to open up the former German and Austrian Settlements in Tientsin as commercial centres.—Chung Foo News Agency.:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.