The sun., 1900-05-09
japan and Russia in Korea.


A thoroughly clear and trustworthy
account Of the conflict OF Japanese and
Russian interests in the Hermit Kingdom
will be found in an article contributed
by Mr.. JAMES MURDOCH to the May number
OF the North American Rsrier. That the
writer is qualified to discuss the subject
will be evident, when We point out that
he Is q British scholar who has resided
for many years in Japan. and who. for
six years, was professor of history in the
University Of Tokyo.
The most valuable feature of this article
mination to secure in Korea home for
the surplus Of her industrial population.
For that purpose, Formosa has proved
entirely useless. The japanese suCcumbs
to the diseases Of q tropical climate even
more quickly than does the Caucasian,
and. according to Mr.. MURDOCH, il is doubt
FIJI whether. in the island ceded by China.
there are now even five thousand japanese
settlers Emigration to the Hawaiian
Islands has been cut off, and we are assured
that, at present. there are not seventy
five thousand Japanese in foreign coun-
tries, including the soldiers who. it has
been asserted, have been smuggled into
Korea under the guise of merchants and
coolies.
On the other hand. il is undeniable that
some outlet must be speedily found for
the excess OF Japans population. which
already presses severely on the means
Of subsistence. The Nikados Empire,
exclusive Of Formosa contains A 900, 900
inhabitants, figure which represents an
increase Of 80 per cent in twenty-eight
years. Now, out Of the 10000 square
miles in old Japan, only 10000 are under
cultivation, and this cultvable area can
be added to only 10 slight extent and
with the utmost difficulty. II is true that,
UP to three ears ago, japan managed
to raise most Of her foodstuIs, and even
TO export rice 10 the amount of some
SO, ,OOO, 900 annually, In 1901, however. she
had to import food staples TO the value OF
so3, 600, 900. This state Of things, already
ominous, will become more serious a few
years hence. when Japan will have some
extra million mouths to feed. especially
as she is liable at any time to a failure Of
her harvets
How is the Mkado's Empire to avoid
the evils which are threatened by the con-
geston of its population? Mr. MURDOCH
shows that escape is possible only in one
or the other of two directions, or in both
combined In the first place, Japan may
try to borrow leaf from Englands eco
nomic history and throw llrge part
Of her energies into the development of
manufactures. Here, however, two OBJ
stacles will be encountered. In the
first place, japan has but little
capital available for the purpose
II is true that she has some ,forty-four
million inhabitants, yet, as regards ac-
cumuated wealth, she does not much sur
pass the little Kingdom of the Netherlands
or Scotland; indeed, Mr. MURDOCH doubts
whether in this respect she be nt all ahead
of the latter country. Then again. for
an increased output Of manufactured pro-
ducts. she would need foreign market,
and this she might formerly have found in
Manchuria and northern China. II those
sections of the Middle Kingdom. however.
| fall under Muscovite ascendnncy, as they
| seem almost certain to do, japanese manu-
| features Wal find therein an open door
| lust so long IA the Car wills, but no longer.
| II is only in Korea that Japan may reason
| ably look forward TO securing a permanent
customer for her manufactured products.
Moreover, Mr.. MURDOCH pronounces It
| extremely doubtful whether any possible
| expansion Of Japanese manufactures would
supply by itself a satisfactory solution
Of ,Japan's population question, when that
shall have become really pressing. Some
| oversee territory must be found for the
| reception Of the overflow Of her agricul-
tural laborers, It's only, as we have said,
! in the Korean Peninsula Just across the
Straits of Tsushima that such territory
can be obtained. Although the present
! population OF Korea is NOT exactly known,
there seems to be no doubt that 1t does
not much exceed ten millions, and as many
more could easily be supported Great
tracts Of Korea are said to be we'll suited
for sericulture and for the production
OF foodstuffs Even now. under the worst
possible political and agrarian conditions.
abe exports annually as much rice as Japan,
and beans 10 the value Of ono million dollars.
With a good government. these exports
could be multiplied enormously but such
a government Korea will never have. so
long as she suffers from what is termed
her independence.
Japan. then. Is vitally interested in OBJ
taining firm hold upon the Korean PENN
sula Unfortunately for the island Empire.
It's Russia 5 interes TO prevent the Mikado' g
subjects from gaining any political control
of it. Already the islanders hold one side
Of the Korean Straits. and have strongly
fortified the island Of Tsushima; II they
were to establish also strong naval base
on the southern coast Of the peninsula at
Masamtho or elsewhere. they would have