Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-14

through Siberia. Is II reasonable to sup
pose that Russia and Germany are acting
in concert to do something that would de-
feat all OF Russia's great objects in the
far east?
All Russia really needs on the Pacific
coast OF Asia is a good winter harbor. and
outlet for her railroad. Vladivostock. the
present railway terminus. is all right ex-
cept for a small part of the winter. when
the harbor there is frozen. Port Arthur.
which Is very near Nladivostock and can
easily be connected with it by rail, is free
from Ice the whole year. And its occupa-
ton by Russia will tend much to the
interests of China as Russia.
In summer time. Russia has not only her
railway. but also her great Siberian rivers.
which are of inestimable commercial i'm
portance, and which are constantly in
creasing in value. For instance. the
Amoor, which flows between China and
Russia, is as long the Mississippi and
is navigable for 1000 miles. Yet steamer
service on this great highway is still in
its infancy. though developing rapidly.
|. And from Nikolaevsk at the mouth of the
bay. and from Vladivostock to Shanghai in
China there is now regular steamer serv-
ice.
From this. ii will be apparent that Rus
STA needs nothing more, so far as regards
the trade situation in the Ear east. And
mere than this. she is equally favored in
the political situation. Few of are
aware of how great is Russia's influence
in China The postal service from Pekin to
the north is wholly in the hands of Rus
STA. In Mongolia. the cIrreLcy in Use
(Which, by the way is bricks of tea and
silk), is expressed in Russian money and
not Chinese. The Russian consul is far
more important there than the Chinese
general. He is considered even on state
| matters by the Chinese well as by the
Mongots For a traveller. Cossack cap
is his best protection. In Corea of late II is
Russian influence which has become para
cunt in the collection of revenue and in
the management of the country's finances.
And even now in Pekin. it is Russia and
orly Russia that China is cor sulting in re-
gard to the present state OF affairs.
All this power of Russia in China, be 1t
noted, has been gained by peaceful means,
by agreements redoundinG as much to the
beEefit of China as Russia Is it likely that
Russia Will now turn around and attack
her friend srd ally-a friend from whom
she can get I'll she wants by peaceful
means?
Power Of Russia and China.
But grant that Russia is against the par
tition Of China, still it will be asked, Can
she prevent it?' For such a question it
needs but little thought to find an answer
1t will be admitted that for any nation to
attack Russia or invade 1t at any point Of
Importance would be folly. And very
slight consideration will show that to at
tack China with Russia defending her
would be equal folly.
While Germany or England would slowly
be bringing men and munitions IN trans
ports through the SueZ canal and around
Irdia, Russia would be sending them by
the wholesale through Siberia by rail ami
across the short distance where the rail-
read is yet unavailable. When IL comes
to supplying a fleet TO. the naval side of 4
war, Russia could at any time after next
spring supply her fieet directly from Vladi-
VcStock, while the other powers would
have to operate practically with far west
E,urpna a their nd
Japan should join the ether powers Rus
STA would still be able to pour far more
troops across the border into China to de-
IL I'D that empire than her opponents could
| bring in by water to attack it. And she
and China would also have the inestmable
advantage of defending Instead of attack
ing.
To many of US this alliance of the SIav
and the Mongol may appear a very
prisins one. But, looking at it seriously,
without any preconceived notions of the
situation, is such an alliance not perfectly
natural? Is it not expedient to both par
ties?
If an English fleet were to seize a port
of Mexico, and some of our ships We're to
anchor in a port near by, with the entire
acquiescence of Mexico and really for Mex
ico's protection, would any sane person
think that We were preparing to seize Mex
lean territory, and to seize ii, too, in con-
junction with England? With our amicable
trade and political relations with Mexico.
would 1t not be more reasonable to suppose
! that we were going to defend her instead of
attack her? Well, Russia's relations with
China are exactly like ours with Mexico
| in many ways, except that they are In many
ways even more intimate.
| 1t is hard to conceive of diagnosis being
| more thoroughly Illogical and unreason-
able than that which has been made of the
political situation in the east.
And later cable reports are now confirm
ing the views 1 have tried to present, and
we are told that the announcement that
h..r n he r n =
| little premature" that China has long
| been accustomed to grant Russia winter
quarters for her fleet and similar favors,
and even that Germany will evacuate kiao
| Crau when China has punished the wrong
| for which Kiao Chau was taken
After Trade, Not Territory.
| But the events now transpiring on the
Pacific coast are far from being utterly
| without meaning. Their meaning is that
the powers are eager for the posse ssion not
| of China's territory, but of her trade. The
| international trade of China is now about
500 100000 annually, and, with the internal
| development of the empire, VIII increase
| rapidly. The Russians realize this fully.
In an address from the Russian merchants
at NiZhny Novgorod, few years ago, they
said: 1.-The strenuous efforts made by Ger
| many to gain possession of the markets of
/ the Pacific. and the efforts which have
| been made to complete the Panama canal.
visibly show that the economic struggle
already commenced will end on the Pacific
ocean,"
Here lies the real significance of what
| has occurred in China. 1t is for the priv
| ilege of selling to and buying from this
great empire of 400. 100000 souls that the
| powers are struggling. We this in
| Germany's present demands China.
which contemplate the complete evacuation
| of all Chinese territory, provided China in
return gives Germany merely some trade
concession.
Our Commercial Interests.
In this economic struggle We in the