ABSTRACT

THE war between Japan and China made the Eastern question and Eastern affairs a focus of interest in Europe, and in the policy of the Great Powers. Russia, in particular, was making every effort to secure a firm position on the coasts of Eastern Asia. With a vast expenditure of strength she completed the Trans-Siberian railway. But the other Great Powers also tried to secure influence in the far east. In November, 1897, Germany occupied the port of KiauTshou, on the south coast of the peninsula of Shantung, in order to have a footing for her fleet, and on March 6th, 1898, made an agreement with the Chinese government by which the Bay of Kiau-Tshou with the adjacent territory was leased to the German Empire for 99 years. During this time Russia had also been negociating with the Chinese government, and on March 27th, 1898, concluded with China a deed of conveyance for 25 years for the south-west portion of the peninsula of Liantung with Port Arthur. The treaty also allowed Russia to continue the Trans-Siberian railway through Manchuria to Niu-Tschwang and the ports of Port Arthur and Ta-lien-wan (Dairen). On April 2nd, 1898, England received Wei-hai-wei on condition that she would cede it to China when Port Arthur again became Chinese. England took possession of the port and the islands belonging to it and about 460 square miles of the adjacent mainland. France would not be left out, and in the same month and year obtained a deed of conveyance for 99 years for the Bay of Kwan-tshou on the coast of the province of Canton. The next year she received in addition the island of Tungshan and some smaller islands. She acquired in all about 521 square miles.