moment's reflexion—will show that the present anomalous state of affairs cannot long endure between China and Russia whose frontiers march with each other for 5,000 miles from the Okhotsk Sea to the foot of the Himalayas. Situated as they are, China and la ave indeed very close ibours, in fact, as we say in Chinese, we can hear. the barking and crowing. of each other's dogs and roosters. Therefore, even if China-and Russia should, out of po ty of nature, refuse to be on gi ing terms with.each other, the circumstances arising out of such proximity—will constrain them to get together sooner or later. Indeed every consideration of reason or policy will dictate that the. relationship between the two countries should be of the normal kind and character as observed between intelligent human beings.
"You are all aware of the amount of trade which used to be carried on between Chinese and Russian merchants until the recent European war put a sudden stop to it. In the nature of the case such trade relations should develop and multiply instead of being held in check as at present. take it that there is no need for me to quote to you statistics showing the volume of trade between China and Russia, and I confident that you will agree with me when I say that trade between China and Russia should be assisted and not hampered in i every way. Certainly one way to j bring about such a situation is, it will be agreed, the early reswnp- i tion of normal relations between the two neighbours through the early conclusion of a commercial
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.