In the Commons on Thursday Mr. Brodrick made statement as
to our policy and position in China which is, on the whole, very satisfactory, and shows that the Govern. ment have no notion of being hounded by the Jingoes into any wild and foolish action in the Far East. The Govern- meat set its face resolutely against partition, and had no reason whatever, judging from the negotiations which have taken place between ourselves and foreign Powers, to believe that there was any variance of opinion in this respect. It was probable that recent events had acted as a salutary lesson on those who, whether private individuals or Governments, had cherished an opposite view. "What- ever government is to be the prevailing government in China after this, whether the central seat of government remains where it is, whether the dynasty remains what it is, whether the government which has been in name at Pekin remains so in fact, or whether it be more widely diffused amongst those Viceroys who have now in mazy respects so independent a position, that government must be, in the first place, by Chinese for the Chinese. We are not prepared ourselves to undertake, nor are we prepared to assist other Powers in undertaking, to Indianise That is all excellent if it is carried out, as we hope it may be, in a reasonable spirit. Qur only fear is lest the principles here laid down may be worked in a Jingo spirit, and we may drift into the intolerable position of defending "the integrity and independence of the Chinese Empire against all comers after the manner of our old policy in Turkey. Rather than that we would take our sphere, and exercise over it a modified protectorate by means of patrolling the water- ways. However, if we are reasonable in regard to Russia's longings for her darnmsa hereditas in North China, and do not indulge in panics of jealousy and alarm, we do not think it need come to this.
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