The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-11
JAPAN WANTS PEACE.
No Deposition to arouse the Jealousy of
Russia Sh0aUn.

NO DaSpOSutOn 70 arouse me O6UlOuSY OF
Russia Shotcn.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1O-A re-
cent dis patch from Paris stated that an
ambassador of one of the great powers had
expressed belief that grave crisis in the
far East was imminent, and that it could
be averted only by an alliance between the
United States, Great Britain and Japan.
The Embassador was quoted as saying that
cit is impossible for the United States to
remain neutral as they cannot abandon
their China trade to Russia without
struggle"
1t is, of course, difficult to obtain an ex-
preston of opinion concerning this state
ment in any official quarter, but it is easy
to see that it is not credited by those who
have the best means of accurately Judging
the real trend of affairs in the East.
They say that Russia, strictly speaking, is
not commercial power, and that, conse-
quently. there is little, if any probability
of commercial rivalry between her and the
United States.
Petroleum is their only commercial ex-
port OF any importance to China and
Japan, and the preponderance of Russian
influence can make little or no difference
| in the trade in that article.
l. Japan's case is, of course, different, but
| there is nothing in the present situation
| to indicate that Japan is seeking an al
| lance with either Russia or Great Britain.
In certain contingencies Russian and Jap
anese interests might possibly clash in
Korea, but the recent declaration of the
Japanese Government regarding its policy
in that country must have dlsarmed any
Ync no on thn a0rfO
The announcement that most of the jap
| anese troops in Korea will be Withdrawn
when Port Arthur is evacuated is accepted
here as guarantee of Japan's good faith.
The retention of small number of SOL
diers to protect japanese lives and prop
erty cannot be regarded as nullifying this
declaration, more especially as it has been
formally declared that these also will be
withdrawn when the Korean Government
is able to afford adequate protection to for
eigners.
Taking into account the unquestionable
preponderance of Japanese interests in
Korea, which render such a course both
natural and proper, it does not seem prob
able that Russia or any other country will
object to it, or perceive in it, as has been
suggested, parallel to the attitude of
Great Britain in Egypt.
A precedent for the action of Japan
might be found, if it were needed, in the
fact that both Great Britain and France
stationed troops at Yokohama for the pro-
lection of the lives and property of their
people during the serious civil connections
which preceded the restoration, and re-
tanned them there for several years. But
this is a minor point. The significant fact
is that the Japanese Government has
sternly repressed certain of its over-zealous
officials and subjects in Korea, and has
declared that its policy toward that coun-
try is strictly one of non-interference.
This is the most notable developmentof
the Eastern situation which has recently
occurred. The news of Japan's action was
doubtless as welcome at ST. Petersburg as
at London, and so far at least may be
regarded as deterrent to anything like
an alliance between Great Britain and
Japan against Russia. On the other hand.
it may be taken for granted that Russia is
too sagacious to wantonly provoke such
an alliance, or to needlessly force the
friendship of either the United States or
Japan.