It is announced "officially" that the Chinese Government has recognised
the conquest of Burmab, has promised to grant facilities for trade, and has agreed to a plan of delimitation. It has at the same time requested that the mission to Thibet, which it has always watched with suspicions eyes, may be abandoned, and also that the decennial embassy to Pekin, with presents, shall be continued. If this is correct, as it appears to be, and if these terms are agreed to, Lord Rosebery has re- moved the most serious obstacle to the pacification of Burmah. Secure of Chinese sympathy, Lord Dafferin can strike down the forces of the Burmese Pretender, and proceed to reorganise the whole country permanently as a Lieutenant-Governorship, with Ava as its capital, and a railroad into Eastern Bengal. It may be necessary to supersede Sir C. Bernard, who hitherto has not displayed the expected qualities ; but it is possible that the failure rests with the military authorities. In any case, the. time has now arrived for a decisive and permanent course of action.
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