THE CHINO-JAPANESE WAR, 1894—95. 636 ment washardly signed when the agents of the Czar showed that the Great Wall was to be no barrier to the progress of Russian influence,by demanding from the Chinese Government the authorisation to run a railway from Manchuria into Pekin itself. At the same time Italy) supported by the good offices of England, was pressing the mandarins for a "lease" of SanmunBay, near Chusan.

accompanied the lopping off of province aftei province from the Ottoman Empire.It deceived no one except those who were blind to the realities of the situation. It meant nomore in Asia than it had already signified in Eastern Europe.

With all the talk of "maintaining the integrity" of the Chinese empire, the partition of that empire had begun. This collapse of the oldest state in Asia, this clash of jarring interestsin the divisionof the spoil, was the outcome of the Chino-Japanese War, which bids fair to be only the prelude of a greater struggle for the dominionof the Far East.

Throughout these proceedings the Powers concerned repeatedly expressed their anxiety for the "preservation of the integrity " of China.

The time-honoured phrase had already done long service in the diplomatic negotiations that HARIl L'NES ! {From a Gentian cartoon.)