Italian Demands in China

463

and Russian spheres of influence in China has been approved at the British Foreign Office.

"Spheres of influence" are the areas claimed or conceded in uncivilized lands as fields of action or influence of various Powers. The plan was adopted in Africa, where the Powers which settled the country claimed spheres of influence which the other Powers were bound to respect, and with which they were also bound not to interfere.

That Great Britain and Russia are seriously contemplating such a plan for China apparently means nothing less than the partition of the Chinese Empire.

The Italian Demands in China.

The matter of the Italian demand on China for a concession at San-Mun Bay is still unsettled. The Chinese informed the Italian Government that they must absolutely refuse the request; but, having satisfied herself that both Great Britain and Japan are willing that she should obtain San-Mun Bay, Italy placed the matter in the hands of Sir Claude MacDonald, the British Minister at Pekin, and confidently expects to secure the wished-for prize.

The Italian Minister, to whom was entrusted the delicate task of asking for the San-Mun grant, exceeded his authority and was recalled. After making his first request and receiving a prompt refusal from the Chinese Government, he became extremely offended, and endeavored to carry matters with a high hand. Without being instructed to do so he

sent an ultimatum to the Chinese Government. This resulted in his recall.

Affairs in China are, however, becoming so complicated that Great Britain feels the necessity of having a conference with her Minister to China before matters proceed much further, and so Sir Claude MacDonald has been granted a leave of absence to enable him to hurry to London and inform the Government more fully of the exact condition of things in the Celestial Empire.

Another effort is being made to obtain territory from the Chinese; but this time there is justice behind the claim.

The Troubles at
Shanghai.

A demand has been made by the British and American Ministers in Pekin for an extension of the foreign settlement at Shanghai. This city is one of the most important of the Chinese treaty ports, and the large number of foreign residents drawn thither by the necessities of commerce are forced to live on a narrow strip of land across the river from the actual walled town of Shanghai.

This strip of land has now become too small for the population on it, and a request has been made that China extend the territory, as the Europeans are so crowded together that their health is liable to suffer unless relief is afforded.

The French have, however, vigorously opposed the extension, for the reason that when they wanted to secure an extension of territory some few months ago, as compensation for damage done during some riots, the

ROUTE OF THE PROPOSED UNDERGROUND TUNNEL FOR THE BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN.

(See Editorial page, this number.)

Bronx Park

British and American Ministers made such a strong protest that the Chinese Government refused to grant the request.

The present idea is that all the foreign settlements shall be equally developed. France has, therefore, withdrawn her objection, on the understanding that no lands which may be granted to foreign Powers shall lie immediately behind the land which is allotted to her.

The Emperor of Corea has astonished his subjects

Corean by discardReforms, ing the national form

of dress and appearing before them in full modern costume.

To be in keeping with the rest of his

Corean Reforms

465

attire, His Majesty has also been compelled to dress his hair in European style, and to do this he has had to part with the short cue which has been a part of the dignity of the Corean Emperors from time immemorial. His attendants were also dressed in modern uniforms, and the dignified and stately Corean Court is horror-stricken over the "new fangled" notions which the monarch has acquired.

The Corean Emperor has also introduced reforms into all Departments of his Government, and the oldfashioned element in the kingdom became so much alarmed that riots finally broke out as a protest against the new decrees.

Happily for the future of Corea, the Reform Party was stronger than the slower going Conservatives. The riots were quelled, and, not wishing to do things by halves, the Emperor dismissed the whole of his Cabinet, which had thought fit to disapprove of his course, and banished two of the most obnoxious Ministers.

France and England came to an understanding on two very important matters during the past few days. When the Sirdar, General Kitch

The End of the

Fashoda Affair, ener, captured Khartoum he obtained information that a number of white men were at Fashoda, a town farther up the Nile, and had fired upon two vessels which had been sent up the Nile to dislodge them. The General immediately sent an expedition South, and discovered that it was a French party headed by Major Marchand, who had taken possession of the district in the name of his

End of the Fashoda Affair

467

country, and refused to give it up, although informed by the Sirdar that this territory by the conquest of the

PROPOSED UNDERGROUND STATION FOR LOCAL SERVICE, WHERE IT IS PLANNED TO
THE PLATFORMS FOR EXPRESS TRAINS
WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE OUTER TRACKS.
HAVE LOCAL TRAINS ONLY, STOP.

Soudan was once more the property of the Egyptian
Government, and under the protection of Great Britain.