6 JUNE 1874, Page 1

We have noticed elsewhere a statement by the Berlin corre-

spondent of the Times that a Chinese ,army is encamped on the frontier of Yarkund. A Russian professor, whose letter is published in the Times of Saturday, affirms that the order for this enterprise was given last autumn, after the capture of Suchow, the last Mussulman stronghold in China, and believes that it will be executed, Yakoob Beg being borne 'down by the numbers of the invaders and treachery among his own subjects. He holds therefore that Russia and England should combine to compel Pekin to desist, which, if the combination were possible, would undoubtedly be the best course. But then is it possible ? Recent events have so completely destroyed English faith in Russian promises that no alliance could be hearty, more espe- cially as Russia's obvious interest is to allow the Ameer of Yarkund to be so pressed that he must rely on Russian troops for aid, and so become a vassal. We can send him rifles and money, if he needs either, but we do not want to march to Pekin to save a province entirely beyond our borJers, and only im- portant because Russia may one day take possession of it. If we could trust Russia in the least, no shot could be fired in Asia without our joint permission ; but the fruit of any agreement is always that Russia does as she likes, and that we put up with it.