St. Paul daily globe., 1895-04-27

nation of the peace treaty for the
United States to take an active part in
offSetting such an alliance. Mr. Ku-
rino wished it to be clearly under
stood, however that this was his per-
sonal conviction. He had not, he
said, received any instructions from
his government, and there had been
no suggestion of an official or un-
official character from him to the state
department that the United States
should be enlisted In its support. His
views were the result of his personal
information of the extent of United
States interests in the East.
1.-The commercial interests Of the
United States in Japan are. very much
greater than those of Germany or
France. Practically their interests are
little or nothing, while those of the
United States are very extensive. The
British trade comes first, and after it
comes the trade of the United States.
1t will be eminently proper, therefore,
if the United States, in consideration
of her superior commercial interests,
should offset a demonstration on the
part of France and Germany, if any
such move is actually made. I am
not officially informed that it has been
made, nor am I apprehensive of the
move should 1t be made, but in the
event of its being realized, then there
is little doubt, in my opinion, that
the commercial interests of the United
States would make it expedient to take
part in the issue. This, of course,
would not mean that the United
States was to engage in a fight. It's
cooperation would undoubtedly be ef-
rective without any radical STEP"
Mr.. Kurino was asked what the re-
suit would be if China's procrastina-
ton or foreign interference prevented
ratification Of the peace agreement.
Then," he replied, 'the war will
be renewed on May s with far more
vigor and determination than before.
The present cessation of hostilities
is due entirely to the armistice grant
ed with the understanding that peace
was desired and would be effected. If,
however, that result is not secured,
there will be a most aggressive ad-
vance on China.
The interview shows that Japan is
fully alive to the menace contained in
the suggestions Of q triple European
alliance to prevent the consummation
of the China-Japanese treaty, and to
the advantage of meeting this alliance
with counter-alliance. Brassey' s
naval annual for 1894 gives the follow
ing comparison of the naval strength
of Great Britain, France and Russia
Battleships-First class, England,
built 10, building 8; France, built 10,
building Z; Russia, built 5, building s.
Second class, England, built IA, build
ing none; France, built 6, building 2;
I,,il . Tl;, oIo
England, built 10, building none
France, built 6, building none; Russia,
built none, building none. Total battle
ships, England, built 46, building 3;
France, built %, building 8; Russia,
built 9, building 8.
Coast Defense Ships-England, built
II, building none; France, built IA,
building Q; Russia, built 13, building 2.
Cruisers, Acknowledgements, built
| 18, building none; France, built 8, build
ing 4; Russia, built 9, building 2.
Protected, First Class-England, built
II, building 2; France, built 2, building
2; Russia, built none, building none.
Protected, second and third class, Eng
land, built 46, building s; France, built
6, building II; Russia, built 2, building
none.
Total, England, built rs, building 10;
France, built II, building IS; Russia,
built IL, building 2.
Lookout Ships-England, built 10,
building none; France, built H. build
ing none; Russia, built none, building
none: Torpedo gunboats, England,
built 80, building none; France, built
II, building 2; Russia, built s, building
none. Slow cruisers, old type, Eng
land, built 27, building none; France,
built %, building none; Russia, built
none, building none.
Germany is not given in the compari-
son. Her vessels, even when called
second and third class, do not equal
the vessels placed in these classes by
the other three government powers.
The naval strength of Germany is
given as follows: Battleships, first
class, 4; second class, 7; third class, 8;
armored gunboats, H.; coast defense
ships, 9; gunboats, a; cruisers, first
class, %; torpedo gunboats, 10.