The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1895, 1895-05-24
Foreign Interference Be-
tween Japan and China.

terring to Reuter- s recent telegram
that Russia, Germany and France
have combined to oppose the
acquisition of territory by Japan
on the continent of Asia, writes a
temperate but dignified article,
to the effect that the three Powers |
in question having no common
interests to protect in the Far
East, the joint action attributed
to them could scarcely be recon
ciled with any principle of in
ternational justice, and that,
under any circumstances, japan.
guided by what is fairly her due,
must pursue her path without
fear or hesitation, not soliciting
unwilling assistance or dreading
unwarranted interference.
So numerous are the rumors
recently circulated, and 80
obviously baseless have they
been in almost every case, that
we have shrunk from the task of
attempting to refute them, trust
ing that public intelligence would
not fail to discriminate between
the extravagances of sensational
newsmongers and the proceedings
Of prudent statesmen. 1t must be
obvious to every thoughtful per-
son that all title to credence is at
once forfeited by writer's blind
enough to believe, for example,
the extremely silly. canard of an
offensive and defensive alliance
between Japan and China; a
canard upon which columns of
journalistic comment have been
expended. The commonest ex.
ercise of reflection should protect
the public against being. worried
by dissertations on such impossi-
bilities. But we cannot dismiss
the latest rumor as in credible,
neither can we entirely follow the
reasoning of the NicLi N;chi
Ohip,bun on the subject. The
motives underlying the actions of
European Powers in the Orient
will often be overlooked if we seek
for them only in the Orient.
Russia's case, indeed, seems
simple enough. 1t cannot
be pretended, of course, that
the acquisition of the Liao-
tung Peninsula by Japan directly
concerns the great Northern Power
ia the smallest degree. By a
delicate. chain of indirect by
potheses Russia could profess to
persuade herself that. in some
dimly remote future, her own
southwark growth or Japan S
northward expansion might in
! volve mutual contact in Man.
churia. But such an extremely
tenuous contention could never
be magnified into solid plea fol
armed intervention between China
and Japan at the present juno
ture. Russia's real position il
much less recondite. In Europe
and in Asia alike she is urged by
the same desire the desire O
finding a southern outlet, 1t il
a perfectly natural desire, ant
among Englishmen sentimen
is growing that to hold such {
purpose in forced check is unrea-
sonable and therefore unwarrant-
able. But Great Britain's policy
mas been lnfexible in this mat,
ter. She has always striven t.
keep Russia back, not because
she entertains any chronic
jealousy of another Power
development, but because, owinl
to Russia's illiberal commercial
policy, every extension Of he
sway signifies corresponding
shrinkage of British trade. II
the Far East the route of Russia
southwark growth lies through
China and Korea, and it there
fore conduces best to her interest
that neither of those State
should develop strength to offer
serious barrier to her progress
On the other hand, nothing coult
be less unwelcome to her than tn,
incorporation of a strong and war
like Power between her presen
restricted frontiers and th,
; natural goal of her expansion
Hence Japan, as she has nov