Note 241 — Chapter IV · PORT ARTHUR AND TALIEN-WAN

“Balance of power in Gulf of Pechili is materially altered by surrender of Port Arthur by the Yamên to Russia. It is therefore necessary to obtain,” etc.—Salisbury to MacDonald, March 25; China, No. 1 (1898), No. 129. Cf. also China, No. 1 (1899), No. 2.

It should be said, in justice to Great Britain, that at first, when the Chinese Government intimated toward the end of February that they would lease Wei-hai-Wei to her if she would accept it, Lord Salisbury considered such an offer premature, for his Government “aimed at discouraging any alienation of Chinese territory.”—Ibid., Nos. 90 and 91.