The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1900-04-07


been the international factor of the past
week and diplomatic functionaries at.
tached to the court of st. James are ask
ing themselves: what does it all mean?
Where win it end?"
The Russian ambassador smiles blandly
and assures his dear friends that it means
nothing, absolutely nothing" but Just
the same, speculation is acute. There
are many men Of fair standing and a tol-
cradle knowledge of international under
currents who are willing to say that war
between Russia and Japan has come with
IN measurable distance. OF these Henry
Norman, who has just returned from a
trip to Russia, is one. But the Associated
Press learns that no such view is taken
by the British foreign office, which, during
the recent troublesome times, has sized
up the international situation with won
derful correctness.
The next few weeks may, perhaps,
bring up a tremendous war scare, but
the salient fact remains that Japan is
not ready for hostilities. Alarming tele-
grams from the far east may increase and
multiply and Korea may seem to be on
the verge of annexation by Russia, but
the calm of Downing street is not likely
to be disturbed. Korean matters are ar
ranged by treaty and Lord Salisbury does
not believe than Russia intends to break
the treaties, though her relations with
Japan may become strained to serious
point. If all this rumpus in the far east
had been postponed for year there is
scarcely doubt that the war would be
a serious probability, but those having
intimate knowledge of Japan's far-reacll-
ing naval projects and her recent state
of incompleteness, do not hesitate to say
that Japan is not going to risk anything
until her plans are matured.
Japanese naval maneuvers in the com-
ing fall are to he carried out on an un-
precedented scale and will partake more
of the nature of a demonstration than of
peaceful evolutions. Forty or more war
vessels are expected to be present in Jap
anese waters.
There seems no longer to be any doubt
that Turkey for her tardiness to meet
the Russian demands regarding railroad
concessions is being menaced by her
northern neighbor and many signs point
to the fact that Russia intends to settle
herself in the northeast of Asia Minor
unless Turkey gives in. Already a quar-
ter of a million of Russian troops are
maintained on those borders, while the
Black sea squadron is ready for business
at moments notice.
| To what extent British moral assistance
can be given to Turkey in Outstanding
the Russian demands is a question which
at the present moment is occupying Lord
Salisbury's attention to an even create,
extent than the South African war; Ir
view of the troubles of Great Britain in
that Turkey will meet the demands and
that the Russian troops will be with
drawn.
The scare anent Russian troops con
centrating in Afghanistan apparently
arose from this movement in the direction
of Turkey in Asia Minor and Afghan
istan has passed into the category o
peaceful, uninteresting spheres.
With all these reports, to say nothing
of continued rumors of Bulgaria's desir
to throw off Turkeys suzerainty and be
come vassal of the car, it is eviden
that while Russia is observing in tn
latter her promise to England not to in
terfere in South Africa she is not idl
in taking advantage of opportunities il
every quarter of the globe. For the peac
Of the world, it is reassuring to remen
Der that the fixed policy of Russia 10
years has been to take matters almos
to the point Of hostilities and then t
settle automatically, the only exception
of this in modern times being the Crimes
when the tone of the peace party in Eng
lanl led her to believe this country woul
not interfere.