A curious piece of news is telegraphed from Shanghai, and
published in the Daily Telegraph of Thursday. It is to the effect that the agreement between Russia and China includes the junction of the Chinese railways with those of Siberia, and the occupation of a part of Manchuria by Russia. Russia, in exchange, promises to support China against internal rebellion. This, as the telegram says, would amount, if true, to a protectorate. It is further stated that when the Chinese hesitated to assent to these terms the Russian Government gave them twenty-four hours to decide, threaten- ing that if the answer was unfavourable they would withdraw their opposition to Japanese occupation of the conquered territory. Probably the details of this statement are incorrect ; but it is clear that Russia has obtained what Americans call "a pull" on China of a very strong kind. A Power like Russia does not guarantee other Powers' loans for nothing. Of that we may be sure.
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