The record-union., 1895-11-11
ritory.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 10.-A dispatch
from Paris states that an ambassador of
one of the great Powers has expressed
the belief that grave crisis In the far
East is imminent and that it can only be
averted by an alliance between the
United States, Great Britain and Japan.
| The En- bassador is quoted as saying that
at is impossible for the United States to
remain neutral, as they cannot abandon
their China trade to Russia without u
struggle"
1T is, of course, difficult to obtain an
expression of opinion concerning this
statement in any official quarters, but it
is easy TO see that it is not credited by
those who have the best means OF ac-
curately Judging the real trend of affairs
in the East. They say that Russia,
strictly speaking, is not commercial
| Power, and that consequently there is
| little, if any. probability of commercial
! rivalry between her and the y nited
| States. Petroleum is their only com
! mercial export 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.
| Japan's case is, OF course, different. but
there is nothing in the present situation
! TO indicate that japan is seeking an alli-
| ance with either Russia or Great Britain.
In certain contingencies Russian and
| Japanese interests might possibly clash
! in COrea, but the recent declaration OF the
| Japanese Government regarding It's pol
| icy III that country must have disarmed
any possible jealousy on the part of
! Russia. The announcement that most OF
| the japanese troops i'll COrea will be
/ n Il rtl iG
| ated is accepted here as a guarantee OF
Japan's good faith The retention OF a
small number OF soldiers to protect Jap
anese lives and property cannot be re-
garded as multiplying this declaration.
! more especially as IL has been formally
declared that these also will be with
| drawn when the Corean Government is
able TO afford adequate protection to for
eigners.
| Taking into account the unquestiOnable
preponderance of japanese interests in
| Corea, which render such course both
natural and proper. il does not seem
probable that Russia or any other cOun-
try will object to 1t, or perceive IN 1t, as
has been suggested, parallel TO the atti-
tude OF Great Britain il Egypt. \ prece-
| dent for the action of Japan might be
| found, if it were needed, Ia the fact that
! both Great Britain and France stationed
| troops at y ok kohama for the protection of
the lives and property OF their people
during the serious civil cominotions
which preceded the restoration. and re-
tanned them there for several years.
But this is a minor point. The signifl
can't fact is that the Japanese Govern
ment has sternly repressed certain of its
over-zealous officials and subjects in
Corea and has frankly declared that its
policy toward that country is strictly one
of non-interierence. This is the most
notable development of the Eastern sit
uRtion which has recently occurred.
The news of Japan's action was doubt
less as welcome at St. Peters burg as at
London, and so far at least may be re-
garded as q deterraut 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 wantoniy provoke such
an alliance, or TO needlessiy forfeit the
friendship of either the Uniled States or
! JaDan,