The German Reichstag, it seems evident, intends to approve the
expedition to China. A. vote was asked for on Monday during the discussion on the Estimates, and the new Chancellor, Count von Biilow, made a most effective speech. He at once conciliated the regular supporters of the Government by agreeing to call the Bill a Bill of Indemnity; he denied that any qUixotry: entered into the expedition, which was entirely dictated by German interests; he quoted the Anglo-German agreement as securing to Germany free trade with the whole of China, and especially with the Yangtee Valley ; and he explained away the Emperor's threat of 'no quarter" as made in a speech uttered under the belief that the whole of the Legations had been massacred. He did not, it should be noted, deny the excessive " severity " exercised towards Chinamen, which, indeed, was admitted by the Minister of War, and justified as "retribution" for the cruelties of the Huns. But the Deputies seem not to have been seriously interested in that subject, and the general impression in the House was that Count von- Billow had achieved a wonderful success. This impression, moreover, is general throughout Europe. We give elsewhere some reasons for distrusting its accuracy, but it is quite clear that the Emperor will • be allowed for the present a free hand. As to his intentions there is not a hint either in the Chancellor's speech or in those of his opponents.
