The foolish desire of the Russian Government to preserve an
impenetrable secrecy has, as usual, prOduced a needless distrust of her policy in China. It was actually believed in this country for a moment that she might have instigated the " Boxer " movement, and even now there are men in England who suspect her of meditating treachery. The truth all the while is that of all the Powers she has suffered most from the upheaval of China. The work on the great railway has been thrown back for at least a year. Not only have stations been attacked and rails torn up for miles, but labourers have fled, and the terminal points are threatened by considerable Manchu forces. A massacre has been committed at Mukden, Newchwang has been burnt, and "Boxers" are active even as far east as Port Arthur, where the outskirts of the great arsenal are threatened by " Boxer " gangs. The outbreak will cost Russia millions, to the despair of M. de Witte, whose currency schemes are
thereby baffled, and her only hope of restoring order without a great war, for which she is not ready, is to act in complete harmony with the remaining Powers. She even tolerates the admission of Japan into the Concert of Europe.
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