Britain's Interests in Port Arthur

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1086, 6 September 1904, Page 2

Britain's Interests in Port Arthur

In view of tho apparently inovitablo fall of Port Arthur, and tho consequent termination of the Russian occupation, the question ofßritain'steuureof Woi-hai-wci hns boon raised, It Ims boon pointod out that by tho terms of Britain's tonure, Woi-hai-woi roverts to China tho moment Russian occupation of Port Arthur and tho Liao Tung Peninsula ceases, That Lord Lansdowne, who will bo compelled to deal with the situation, wil) do his utmost to provont Briitsh ovaouation of tho port may be regarded asoorlain. Sir Ernest Satow, British Minißtor to China, who is an aggrosaivo (Monitor of British possessions and proat'go in tho Far Enst, is likely to favour tho retention of Wowiai-wei at any cost, Above all Japan is dotenniwM to kcop Britain m Wei-hai-wei. British oxports aro divided in opinion as to tho strntegicnl importance of Wei-hai-woi, but the Japancso say that in some respects it is a hotter naval baso than For} Arthur, Thoy assort that it can bo made impregnable on tho land sido, and that Britain oan afford to fortify it when its occupation no longer deponds on Russian occupation of I'on Arthur, but is established in porpotuity, Hhould China oppoao tho salo of lcuso, Japiiu would spoodily apply tho pressure nocessary to ovoroome opposition, According to rocent Home news, B itish naval imperialists mid shipping magnates urge Lord Lansdowno to stay m Woi-hai-wei at all risks, They' point out that tho difficulties of operating in tho Yollow Soa district from tho coast aro just what thoy were whon Sir Claude Mac* donnld urgod them as sulficient ronson for demiinding a leusu of Wei-hai»\voi. Enghnd cannot afford to withdraw from waters that aro rapidly becoming tho world's pnliticul contra of gravity. As royards the principle ol Chinese sovereignty sugg-'slod, it is believed Lord Lansdowno acknowledges the force of tho suggostiou that Britain onn best uphold that principle by firmly basing Its naval strength in the YlllowfM.