The herald., 1894-11-07

no injustice to infer that such a war
held out to her prospecte OF no inconsid-
! cradle advantage. 1t would materially
check and retard the cotton spinning q
and weaving industry. which had lately
assumed enormous dimensions in Ja-
pau. 1t would stimulate English ex.
ports OF all kinda to the helligerents. 1t
would, above al, offer England oppor.
tunity for mediation. and render the
Chinese more emenable - throwing
open further portions of their domin-
ions 10 foreign trade. But the most i'm
portRnt consideration must have been
the urgency of deciding the fate OF
Corea, before the trans SiAerian railway
was completed and before Russia felt
herneli otherwise ready to swoop down
from her ice-bound shores upon the
coveted prize OF Port Larazef.
And it is here that one stands in ad-
miration OF the astuteness of Japanese
diplomacy. They have for years been
studying as minutely and as patiently
the international relations and jealous
les of the European powers as they have
accurately copied and developed the
best models OF their military organiza.
tion and OF their naval science. Four
years ago g young japanese student at
Oxford sent me copy Of work he had
juet published on the Asatic issues of
the Eastern question. He argued with
much ingenuity and persuasiveness that
the rivalry OF the powers which is at the
bottom OF the 80 called Eastern ques-
ton" had steadily travelled eastward
into Asia. until it had now reached the
Corean shores, where it would have to
be decided by the aid of Japan.
That tho Apglo,-Japnnese treaty car.
ries secret understanding OF come
foit between the two contracting par
ties, and that this understanding is
directed against Russia, may be taken
for granted. As far as Corea is con-
cerned, the interests of England and
japan are manifsstly identical in seek
ing TO impede the extension OF Russia
southwark. England could never feel
sure OF the guardianship of that penin-
sula bv the Chinese, upon whom Russia
can bring to bear the influence OF force
or of bribe, and whose policy gravitatse
toward her northern sister empire, in
preference to other European combi-
nations. Therefore English interests in
this direction could best be ssfe-guaIded
BY the rival pretensions OF Russia and
Japan upon Corea assuming an acute
form.
Guided by such considerations and by
the fact that war with China depended
mainly upon the mastery of the sea. the
Japanese found it essential to insure the
benevolent neutrality of England. That
they succeeded in this no one would
have dou bted after the sinking of the
Kow Shing, a transport chartered by the
Chinese before the outbreak of hostil.
ity, flying the British ensign and man.
ned by British crew. Whatever may
have been the aspects Of the question
in international law pure and simple,
nsither would the wary Japanese have
proceeded upon such high-handsd
proceeding in 30 cavalier fashion, nor
would the English government have
passed it over in SILENCE unless there
existed some underlying but unavowsd
understanding.
Up to this point things went on
smoothly. But the rapid development
OF JapaneEe preparation. the marvellous
efficiency of their organization, their in
telligent and patriotic enthusiasm. the
ability OF their leaders, and the eclst of
their subsequent successes. were so sud-
den and striking, they 80 entirely ex-
ceeded the expectations even Of their
most Jealous admirers, tbst they took
entirely by storm the British govern
mens, which appears TO have looked for.