The situation in China should be a great deal clearer
next week, when Count von Waldersee will have reached Pekin and received his final instructions. At present opinion is only bewildered by rumours, some of which, wesre convinced, are Chinese in ultimate origin, and intended to sow discord among the Powers. Under these circumstances we can only state with all reserve our general impression, which is that 'Count von Waldersee, acting for Germany, but with the approval of Great Britain, France, and Japan, will formulate at Pekin the demands essential to secure reparation for the Past and safety for the future. The precise character of :these demands is still unknown, but they will certainly include the execution or banishment of a limited number of notables responsible for recent outrages, a moderate in- 'cl.emnity, and some plan for ensuring to Europe constant and safe access to the actual ruler of China. These demands will be refused, and the Allies will then seize the Chinese Fleet, and proceed to one or other of the measures of coercion dis- cussed elsewhere, leaving it to China to declare war or not at her discretion. This, we say, is the probable course of events, but in China it is not always the probable that happens. The one thing we hold to be certain is that the Imperial Court intends to resist.
Previous page
