It will be observed that nothing in this Note affects
the present situation in China, which remains as bad as ever. In the North the German, French, and Anglo-Indian troops have made a successful expedition to Pao-ting-fu, which has been • occupied without opposition, the officials proving friendly. For the rest, they govern Pekin, and are preparing, we hope, with some assiduity, against the great dangers which will threaten them in the winter. The Empress-Regent, on her side, has seated herself at Sian, as the new capital is to be called by English- men, is collecting troops from the South, and possibly from Mongolia, is drawing revenue from the Yangtse Valley, and is removing all "doubtful "—that is Europeanised—officials from the Valley and from the Southern provinces. She means to fight. In the South ferment increases, the Im- perial troops are reported beaten, and the Viceroys, quiver- ing with fear of the rebels and dread of the terrible Empress, are suggesting to the correspondents of the European papers that they want concrete help, which will mean advances of money. We do not see that they are pre- pared to resist the Empress, and we do see that if we declare against the rebels• they also will be added to the anti-foreign faction. Altogether it is a welter.
