WHEN CHINA MEETS RUSSIA.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2217, 11 February 1886, Page 2

WHEN CHINA MEETS RUSSIA.

I found that Franco was held by the Chinese in but small {ear and distal compared with another power—Russia (writes A. R. Colquhoun intho Nineteenth Century), The Chinese fought the. French over the Tonquin question less foi the sake of any Bentimontal hankering after the suverainty of Aiiam than for the most unreasonable object of teaching the European Powers that to make an aggressive movement upon China was an expensive process in life and treasure, and not lively to lead to profit or strengthen the aggressive Power, The Chinese were well aware of French aims and aspirations from the commencement of the Tonguin affair. Thoy knew that the French political agents had instigated their Government to acquire Tonguin not so much for the value of the country or the possession, but as abase from which they could gradually dismember Southern China during periods of rebellion, and thus, add Chinese provinces to the Indo-Chinese Empire. If it were her object to road a salutary lesson to the Fonch, she seems to have abundantly stultified her policy; for costly as the war has been to China it has relatively been much more costly to France, and may prove still more costly in the future. Russia is the one power feared by China. She has closely studied and watched the forward progress of Russia, and whatever the peace-at-any-price people and humanitarians may think, about Russia's, not being m aggressive power, China, herself entertains qb.doubt whatever as to. what Russia's aims are,, and her. own duty is as regards Russia—to be ready to defend herself by force 1 of arms. "Whilo in China 1 found the idea, jri favor., with Chinese statesmen, and spontaneously expressed in the native Chinese Press, that a defensive alliance Bhould be formed with England against Russia, the traditipn/ii and inveterate enemy of both, and thel sound sense of the Ohiuaaian not osly

immediately realised tins, but also that the only way to bring any permanent allmnce was to develop theljmmunicaions, and thus the intercou* between he two empires of India Id ■ China. In this basis of common and permanent interests, cemented by increasing commercial connexion, they saw 'the prospects of an alliance which would prove more trustworthy m their opiilioh that all the paper treaties ever Ixeouted. China has not forgotten howirßugsiafilched from her the large territory of Manchooria, in 1858, the fatherland of the Imperial family,, when she ■ had been brought to her knees by the iAriglo French expedition, nor how Russia annexed Kuldja, some years baok; which however, Chinu compellod;her to evaouke! Russia is the source of distrust and wad of all Chinese statesmen, as well she may be, and a burning, rankling wound in the breast of the Manchoos. There is no object China would fight for and make sacrifices for like a war against Russia,:in which v she could hope to thrust back Russia from the Pacific and beyond the Armoor.