No news whatever has been received from China during the
week. Admiral Courbet is believed to have received orders to proceed to the Yangtse ; but according to the latest rumours, M. Ferry hesitates, either hoping for German mediation at Pekin, or fearing German annoyance at any interference with trade. A story has been spread of Li Hung Chang's restora- tion to power, which would imply the revival of the Peace Party, but it appears to be untrue ; and a rumour has been spread of a Franco-Russian alliance. This was certainly believed in China, for on September 23rd the Times' correspondent at Shanghai—usually sensible—telegraphed the following ludicrous message :—" A Franco-Russian alliance means the disintegra- tion of China, and its partition between Russia and France, with a Russian instead of a Manchu dynasty. France having the three southern provinces allotted to her, and Russia having China as a recruiting-ground, and being connected with it by railways, means Franco-Russian preponderance in Europe, and therefore danger to Germany." A Russian dynasty in China! Chinese recruits fighting Prince Bismarck's Pomeranians The correspondent must have lost his head. It is needless to say that Russia and France combined could not govern China, and that neither Power has the slightest intention of attempting that ridiculous enterprise. France could not begin the work, though she could dictate a reasonable treaty ; and it would cost Russia her whole available strength for twenty years, and then require a garrison of a quarter of a million of men. The defeat of China is easy enough ; the conquest of China would tax and over-tax combined Europe.
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