New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-11
JAPAN IN CHINA.

Tho Iotcst news from the Far East has no
uncertain sound. Japan has announced her
permanent acquisition OF the great Chinese port
of Wei-Hai-Wci and China has acquiesced IN
II as nm accomplished fact. and given formal
notice of II to the world. Nothing more impor-
tont than that has occurred since Germanys
seizure of Kiao-Chau. How the news Will be
received by the European Powers. and especial
" by Russia is yet to be seen. Logically. there
IS not the slightest ground for complaint; and
practically the only Power that IS able TO make
an effective protest against 1t is the one that Is
most certain not TO do So The method or pro-
cedure has been perfectly simple. Under the
Treaty Of Simonosek Japan has been holding
We-Hal-Wel rs security for the payment of the
war indemnity. That indemnity now falls due
China has not the money to pay 1t. She tried
the other day to get foreign loan. Great Brit
ain offered ii on exceptionally easy terms. But
Russia threatened China with her dispeasure
If she accepted II. And from no other Power
could China get loan, save on most onerous
terms Then she proposed n domestic loan But
nobody would subscribe TO H. remembering now
the last one was repudated. SO now emma
abandons all hope Of raising the money ana IN
lieu OF the indemnity. or OF part OF H. cedes
We-HaiWei to Japan. Assuredly that Is Il par
gain which China and Japan are competent to
make between them. and in which no other
Power has any concern.
Two Powers. however, are almost certain to
regard It with serious disfavor. One is Ger
many. In selling Kiao-Chan she evidently
aimed at virtual domination Of the whole shan
Tung peninsula But Japan now acquires Il
footing on that same peninsula, and IN place
lncomparably stronger and strategicaily more
important than Kiao-Chau. 1t Is n place, IN
decd that can be made practically impregnaDle;
and II overshadowS the great treaty port OF
Che.Foo. which will, Of course. remain an open
port but In which we may expect japanese IN
flucnce henceforth to become predominant me
other Power is Russia, She Is planning to make
Port Arthur or TalienWan the terminus or her
Siberian railroad. establish there o great fort
ress and naval station and thus command the
entrance to the Gulf Of Pe-Ch-Li. But here Is
japan establishing what will be veritable
Gibraltar just on the other side OF the strait,
not only commanding the entrance 10 the CUR
of Pc.ChLi as effectually as does Port Arthur
but also commanding the entrance 10 and exit
from Port Arthur itself. Strategically, indeed.
Wei Hai-Wei IS far more important than Port
Arthur and Talicn-Wan and Kiao-Chau, and all
other Chinese ports north OF the Iang-Tse put
together Possession of it gives Japan double
grin upon Corea. and makes her, save for Eng
land. easily the mistress OF the Yellow Sea.
There Is room, OF course, TO question the Wis
dom from the Japanese point of view. OF ac-
curing the place. 1t makes Japan 4 continental
power as well as nsular and maritime, and
subjects her TO the possibility Of attack by land
no we'll rs nv sea Russia, however. Is not
likely to send an army around past Picking and
beyond the Hoang- Ho; and unless she does so
Japan's new possession will be safe from mol
estatlon The further dolngs OF the Island
empire in that quarter will be awaited with
eager interest Whatever they may be- this is
now we'll assured that in the problem OF China's
Ana, d,snosltlon there will be no more vital and
potent factor than Japan.