In the House of Lords on Monday Lord Kimberley asked
Lord Salisbury what steps the Government propose to take to safe- guard British interests as regards railways in the provinces bordering on the Yangtse. Our original policy of the open door appeared to have collapsed, and China was now being parcelled out into spheres of influence. Russia was making rapid progress in Manchuria, and was excluding foreigners from any participa- tion in railway projects in that very important part of China. We were supposed to have a sphere of influence in the Yangtse, and had, as far as the course of the river was concerned, obtained considerable concessions. The future, however, would belong to those who held the railways, and it seemed as if other Powers were obtaining command of the river approaches to the Yangtse. An English firm desired to make a railway from Kowloon to Canton, but the French had protested because the province of Kwang-tung lies within their sphere of influence. There could not be the smallest doubt that Russia and other Great Powers were making strenuous efforts to appropriate as far as they can the right, to use the Chinese Empire for the construction of great rail- way works. It would be said that a long time must elapse before such great works are constructed, but unless we exerted ourselves strenuously and took care not to be ousted from our fair share we should find ourselves supplanted. No doubt, owing to the traditions of our Government, it was extremely difficult for us to fight with the same weapons as are employed by other Governments, but in a matter so deeply affecting the commercial interests of this country "I cannot but feel," said Lord Kimberley, "that we may be compelled to depart from our usual practice."
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