It is not easy as yet to ascertain the precise
plan of the Russian Government with respect to Manchuria. It appears to desire possession of the province, but to be frightened at the pecuniary liabilities which it may entaiL According to a telegram in the Times of Thursday, M. de Lesser, the new Russian Ambass1dor in Pekin, is negotiating with Li Hung Chang for a new Convention which will define the rights of China and Russia in the territory; but it seems certain that the latter does not wish for an avowed annexation, which would give her millions of Chinese to govern. It is probable, therefore, that the Convention will give Russia large privileges for the management of her Trans-Asiatic Railway, and a port on the open water to be its trading terminus, but will not transfer to her the government of districts remote from the line. That would be an adroit arrangement, though it leaves the serious difficulty of the immense Chinese immigration into Manchuria unsettled. In any case, the arrangement, if we obtain fair terms for our trade, is no business of ours.
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