French Premier, to St. Petersburg, is naturally much discussed, especially in connexion with the Far Eastern question, says the "L. & C. Express." It may be generally state ed that the views of Russia, France, Great Britain and Japan regarding the loan to China are, if anything, confirmed by the St. Petersburg conversations. Russia, we are told, considers that the application of the loan and its control by the consort tim of the Powers ought not to be Hien to the special interests China. Again, Russia does not desire that Mongolia, which is under her direct influence, should as a result of outside influences develop in a manner hurtful to her own interests.
The " Matin" states that, in the course of his interview with Baron Motono, M. Poincaré informed the Japanese Ambassador that perfect agreement existed between France and Russia in the matter of the loan, and that England being in complete accord with Japan, the four Powers were at one for the defence of Russo-Japanese interests.
The special correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" at St. Petersburg says the Far Eastern situation was passed in review by the states men, and various aspects of it were discussed more than once without revealing serious _divergencies, either of forecast or future attitude.
He continues "Animated by a sincere desire to see China peaceful and prosperous, the chiefs of the Governments of France and Russia are resolved to display the utmost goodwill towards the Republic, and to shape their respective policies in harmony with the assumption that the new regime ditions under which it ought to be effected, but their claim to rank as statesmen would. be questionable if they avoided a topic of such far-reaching import and palpitating actuality. I myself have several times described that eventuality as probable. I now once more forewarn the British public that they would do well to familiarize themselves with the idea of Russo-
Japanese joint action in China, re-
Force four years ago. He has been mentioned in despatches on numer-ons occasions.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.