Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1898. THE EASTERN WAR CLOUD.

Te Aroha News, Volume XIV, Issue 2070, 25 January 1898, Page 2

Te Aroha AND Ohinemuri News TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1898. THE EASTERN WAR CLOUD.

Last Friday, speaking at Liverpool, Mr Chamberlain said there were many olouds on thb political-horizon, but the Q-overnment felt they could rely oii the British people to uphold the honour and interests of the country. To-day it is impossible to minimise the gravity of the situation in Asia. The question is, as we indicated in our. leader on Saturday) whether England will be permitted to carry out her scheme for opening tip China to the trade of the world or not, without incurring the armed opposition of Russia. Russia seeing in the consummation of England’s plans, her own vast scheme of aggrandisement completely check-mated, is striving to intimidate . China into rejecting the British offer of aloan; probably bailing her hook with a promise to crush the 'power Of the rapidly rising empire of Japan, once and for ever, under her iron heel. England and Japan, are now actually allied, and in event of Russia proving as determined as the English Government, war will inevitably result. For England to withdraw from her present attitude woiild strike such a blow at British prestige in the East as would iiiiperil her ascendancy in India. . In short, England cannot afford to abate one inch of her claims on China. The present state of affairs, for which Russia seems to have been long preparing, throws a sinister light on the Indian frontier troubles, and the part played in them by the Afghan ruler-, i he attitude of Germany at this crisis scarcely surprises us. She knows very well in event of a war with Russia proving disastrous to England, China will be as a sealed book to her merchants, whereas if England proves successful that vast Empire will be thrown open to the world to trade with. Consequently Germany is now showing an inclination to support us. The meaning of Russia’s French alliance, a most unnatural one, the alliance of a despot and a republic, is now made clear. In event of Germany doing more than simply approve of England’s action, France will at once take her cue from the great northern power and Germany will be menaced on two sides. The Emperor William knows that, and hence, perhaps, the uneasy grace with which he wears his . crown. America, which has a large trade with China and Japan, of Course applauds England’s action at the present juncture of affairs. Taking all these facts into consideration, not omitting England and Japte’s great naval strength, we cannot fail to bo struck at the Her-

culean nature of the task Russia is undertaking if she persists in her present course of action. The worse feature of the case as it stands, the one most likely to lead to complications, is Russia’s action in attempting to terrorise China. If China withdraws from the negotiations now proceeding with Great Britain through Russian intimidation, the onus of declaring war will rest with England and Japan Tor England could, never allow such a blow at her prestige and commerce in the East to pass unavenged, and from what we observe of the temper of both her Ministers and those of Japan her vengence will be swift .and immediate,