There is no evidence as yet of divided counsels in
the camp of the Allies, but the jealousies between the nationalities are painfully apparent. The Russians look askance at every proposal to ask more aid from the Japanese, while the Anglo-Chinese suspect everything that Russians do or leave undone. The governing Council of Admirals, for instance, has given the control of the railway from Takn to Pekin to the Russians, who have probably most engineers, and the English not only demur, but as the shareholders are in the main English, advise resistance. That is to say, a march of the Allies to Pekin is to commence with a. battle among the Allies themselves. This is foolish. If we are to quarrel, let us quarrel after Pekin has been taken, not while we are on the road. Delay cannot injure us, whose strength is on the sea. There is, however, no need of quarrelling. Whatever we want in China, we do not want Pekin, and the notion that if Russia reigns there for a time she will govern all China is the merest dream. We could wish her no worse luck than to try. She will find Manchuria a big morsel to swallow, and as to China, China would choke Europe, let alone St. Petersburg.
