Russia might be guarded by her troops, presumably to protect them from natives who objected to the inventions of the “foreign devils.”  As regards naval affairs, the Czar’s Government gained the right to “lease” from China the harbour of Kiao-chau for fifteen years; and, in case of war, to make use of Port Arthur.  The last clauses granted to Russian subjects the right to acquire mining rights in Manchuria, and to the Czar’s officers to drill the levies of that province in the European style, should China desire to reorganise them.[492]

[Footnote 492:  Asakawa, chap. ii.]

But the protector had not reaped the full reward of his timely intervention in the spring of 1895.  He had not yet gained complete control of an ice-free harbour.  In fact, the prize of Kiao-chau, nearly within reach, now seemed to be snatched from his grasp by Kaiser Wilhelm.  The details are well known.  Two German subjects who were Roman Catholic missionaries in the Shan-tung province were barbarously murdered by Chinese ruffians on November 1, 1897.  The outrage was of a flagrant kind, but in ordinary times would have been condoned by the punishment of the offenders and a fine payable by the district.  But the occasion was far from ordinary.  A German squadron therefore steamed into Kiao-chau and occupied that important harbour.

There is reason to think that Germany had long been desirous of gaining a foothold in that rich province.  The present writer has been assured by a geological expert, Professor Skertchley, who made the first map of the district for the Chinese authorities, that that map was urgently demanded by the German envoy at Pekin about this time.  In any case, the mineral wealth of the district undoubtedly influenced the course of events.  In accordance with a revised version of the old Christian saying:  “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of—­the Empire,” the Emperor William despatched his brother Prince Henry—­the “mailed fist” of Germany—­with a squadron to strengthen the Imperial grip on Kiao-chau.  The Prince did so without opposition either from China or Russia.  Finally, on March 5, 1898, the Court of Pekin confirmed to Germany the lease of that port and of the neighbouring parts of the province of Shan-tung.

The whole affair caused a great stir, because it seemed to prelude a partition of China, and that, too, in spite of the well-meaning declarations of the Salisbury Cabinet in favour, first, of the integrity of that Empire, and, when that was untenable, of the policy of the “open door” for traders of all nations.  Most significant of all was the conduct of Russia.  As far as is known, she made no protest against the action of Germany in a district to which she herself had laid claim.  It is reasonable, on more grounds than one, to suppose that the two Powers had come to some understanding, Russia conceding Kiao-chau to the Kaiser, provided that she herself gained Port Arthur and its peninsula.  Obviously she could