Among the Celestials : vol.1 / Page 114 (Color Image)

0114	Among the Celestials : vol.1

88 AMONG THE CELESTIALS. [CHAP. IV.

aware himself that there are some very nasty

chinks in his armour. And he knows, too, that

there are others around him who would be only

too glad to trip him up from behind.

If Russia absorbs China bit by bit, and at the

same time regards our interests, we should be

only too thankful ; for the substitution of

Russian for Mandarin government could in

that case be nothing but advantageous I f

Russia comes with an ally and attempts . to

absorb China for herself, regardless of our

interests, as she at present seems inclined to

do, then we also must bring up an ally on our

side, to assist us in the protection of common

interests. There are other nations besides

ourselves interested in seeing that China does

not become exclusively Russian, and among

them it ought to be possible to find an ally.

All I would urge from my experience of Asiatic

countries is that the ally should be white, and

not yellow ; that we should not expend our

resources in supporting a party who is incapable

of supporting himself ; that we should rather

spend these resources in strengthening our-

selves.

Perhaps, then, we may be permitted to hope

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