The record-union., 1898-01-01
She Must Guard Against PefiIs That
Menace Her.
Will Not Suffice That She Should be Merely
on the Defensive.
Significant Words of "Jiii Simpo,"
Japan's Most influential News
paper, Contained in a Scathing
Arrangement OF Germany's
Course in Occupying Kiaochau.

Course in Occupying Kiaochau.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81. - A high
state of public feeling in Japan over
the complications in the far East.
centering in China, is shown by the
last press advices received here from
Japan. That the Government itself
has an eye 10 the gravity of the ,ques-
ton is shown by statement of the
Prime Minister made in the course of
reply to delegation. He said: with
affairs tending toward dangerous de-
velopments, as is now the case lnyx the
East, we shall not hesitate To ask the
Diet for 30.000,000 yen, or even 40
100000 if necessary"
This was only short time before%the
Premier was forced to resign because
of the public feeling that the Cabinet
was too weak to deal with the descent
of the European Powers upon China
and the probable dismemberment of
the latter country.
The "Jiji Simpo,' the most influential
paper in Japan, contains a scathing arr
raignment of Germany's course, declar-
ing the occupation of Kiaochau shows
that the laws and tenets of internation-
al morality have ceased to be anything
more than specious pretense by Euro
pean Powers, and that the rule by
which their conduct is really regulated
is the flesh of the weak is the food of
the strong" After declaring that Ger
many has thrown off the mask and has
taken the lead of Western Powers in
the struggle to devour China, the paper
adds as to the attitude of Japan:
The confagration is on the other
side of the river but the river is a
narrow one and the sparks may easily
fly across. The lesson for Japan is
that country's security depends solely
on its strength to resist aggression. and
that aggression has come to her own
gates. 1t will not suffice that she
should be merely on the defensive To
preserve what one already has it is
sometimes necessary to add more.
crisis in the Orient now confronts Ja-
pan and her undivided strength must
be devoted to guarding against the per-
lis that menace her.
The "Nichi Nichi Shimbun' takes a
similar view, declaring that it is a part
OF the plan of encroachment of Euro
pean nations upon the East. 1t adds
for Japan that it has the greatest in
terest at stake in these openings. and
that the Japanese Foreign Office should
lose not time in obtaining from Ger
many clear expose of her purpose.
The 'Kokumin Shimbun" says that
Germany's action is a SEQUEL to the
three Powers Germany, Russia and
Franco interference with Japan's hold.
ing Port Arthur after having taken that
fortress, and that as these Powers are
again in collusion Japan must diligently
prepare herself for emergency.
The Nippon" says the crisis calls for
resolute foreign policy by Japan. and
AYERS that nothing tends to impair
amity more than tame submission to
insult and wrong. The course of Ger
many is arraigned as a fiagrant VIOLA
ton of international law.
The 'Sehuo" declares that the tina
FOR the partition of the Chinese Empire
has arrived, and adds: What shall ia
pan do? Shall she join in the scramble
for pieces of the doomed State. or shall
she oppose its partition? In such a
crisis, the like of which has not occur
red since the restoration, the portfolio
or Foreign Affairs is in the hands of a
man IN whom the nation has no con-
fidence'
The Toxic 'Shimpo" takes the radical
position that it is Japan's duty to sue
cor China at this juncttre on the
ground that the boasted civilization
and Christianity of the Western world
is slowly tramping down right and JUS
tlce IN Its descent upon the Orient
Aside from the excited discussion Of
the problem in China, the Japanese
press is mainly concerned in the CONN.,
try's extensive naval and military de-
velopment. The expenditures on "aru-
ament expansion" this year will be 80
645, 121 yen and next year 63. .25O 900
yen.
Brilliant field maneuvers have been
executed by the two army corps of the
North and South in the presence Of
many foreign diplomats and military
experts. The battleship Yashima has
just arrived from the English shiu-
yards. She is the second of the big
battleships added to Japan's new navy,
the first being the Fugi They are sis
ter ships Of 12,517 tons displacement
each, twenty knots speed, and in
armament and general appearance
much like the United States battle
ship Indiana. The Yashini is the larg-
est warship that ever passed the Suez
Canal, and it was found necessary 70
unship the heavy guns and take Off
some of the outer armor to get her
through the canal.
PEKIN, Dec. 31-Advices just re-
ceived from Seoul the capital of Corea,
say that a compromise has been eff
fected by an agreement, according to
which ]. McLeavy Brown, the Brit
ish customs agent, and NJ AleXleH.
the Russian agent, to make room for
whom Mr.. Brown was removed. VIII
work the Corean customs together.
The British warships which were
present at Chemulpo, Seoul, are there
in order to give moral support to Mr.
Brown.
SECRET MISSION TO CHINA.
LONDON, Dec. 31.-A special dis
patch from Paris says that nj. Roume,
head of the Asiatic department OF the
French Colonial Office. starts on Sc
cret mission to China Sunday in con-
nection with the crisis in the far East.
The dispatch adds that special milf
tarv mission will also start from China
shortly.
BERLIN, Dec 31.-The German first
class cruiser Kaiserin Augusta arrived
De-