Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-11
Chinese Violence Due to Hostility to
Foreign Religions.
WILLING TO TRADE WITH OUTSIDERS
Exaggeration Regarding the ReIa-
tons of Russia and Japan.
NOT LOOKING TO A WAR

An interesting statement of present con-
ditions in China and Japan. with special
reference to the friction between Japan and
Russia, is made by Mr.. r. Kondo. presi-
dent of the Japan Mail Steamship Com
pany, who has been spending some time
In the United States. Mr.. Kondo occupies
a high position in business and financial
circles in the orient, and has been a keen
observer of the resources OF the United
States for developing its commerce with
the east.
He says that the existing troubles are
largely due to the antpa;hy OF the great
majority of the Chinese to the Introduction
of foreign religions. Many self-sacrhcng
missionaries Of various nationalities have
gone to China in the hope of spreading the
gospel and elevating the Chinese to a
higher plane of civilization. Their efforts
have not. however been especially fruitful
so far as bringing China under the influ-
ence of western ideas is concerned. The
Chinese do not take easily to new religious
ideas The minds of most OF them are
thoroughly imbued with the teachings OF
Confucius and the other sages. and their
natural attitude is one OF hostility to all
foreign faiths. Such uprlsings they are
now having are really little more than
manifestations of their opposition to the
introduction of such faiths.
Not Opposed to Foreign Traders.
Only last year Mr.. Kondo, while visiting
China, was informed by a conservative
Chinaman that the people did not object TO
foreigners coming to their country 10 trade.
but that they would not tolerate the at
tempt to spread religions which they firmly
believed menaced the integrity OF the en-
pire. The Chinese business instinct is as
acute and as fully developed as that OF any
nation, and Mr.. kondo believes that
through its agency their confidence can be
gained and the empire opened to foreign
commerce and Industrial enterprise. After
that the work Of missions can be carried
on with much less difficulty and with far
greater success.
Japan and RUSSIA.
Referring to the apparently general be-
lief that a clash between Japan and Rus
STA is imminent, Mr.. Kondo says that this
impression doubtless arose from the fact
that Japan Is thought to entertain resent
full feelings toward Russia because the
latter prevented her from absorbing the
Lao Tung peninsula at the close of The
Carbohydrates war, and afterward made
il practically Russian territory. Mr.. kon1o
believes, however. that Japan has no rea-
son to regret this loss of territory, which
is, at beS:, barren and unproductivc, AMI
the retention of which would have entailed
great expense. In his opinion Japan AMI
Russia have nothing to gain by going 10
w&r. Japan, 1t is true, has Increased her
military armament since the war, while
of 100000 men upon the Siberian frontier.
But neither of these circumstances can fair
ly be regarded as ominouS Of war. The aug
mentaton of Japans naval and military
forces is the natural result OF her desire TO
maintain her position eastern poNer.
They not for aggression, but for pro-
lection.
Russia Seeking Commercial Advan-
taEes.
Russia's action might reasonably be at
tributed 20 the necessity of protecting II
long line of frontier against native upris-
iugs. Russia having incurred such large
expenses in the construction of the Sine
RAN and Eastern Chinese railways. MIR.
kondo believes that the object of her gov
eminent should be, and he hopes thar II
is. to recoup this great outlay by legitimate
commercial methods and not to add TO il by
making war for territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
Japan's interests in China are wholly COM
mercial. and If Russia made such a war it
is not Japan alone whom she would have
TO face. The same may be said of Corea,
for there are other powers beside Japan
with whom Russia would have TO deal in
case she attempted to annex that country.
The truth is, Mr.. Kordo says. there has
been great deal of exaggeration concern
ing Russia's and Japan's attitudes both in
China and Corea-
The Masampo incident, concerning which
SO much has been said, is an instance ~
point. All that there was in that affair
was that the Russians desired to obtain n
certain piece of land in Masampo wherein
TO provide shore facilities for steamship
line to be run in connection with the East
ern Chinese railway. The japanese owner
OF that much-talked-of piece OF land was no
other than the Japan Mail Steamship Com
pany. of which Mr.. Kondo is prcSi1cp;,
which desires to use 1t for precisely the
same purpose as the Russian company. The
incident has absolutely no political signi1-
canoe whatever. Nothing could be farther
from Japans desire, Mr.. kondo adds. than
to fight Russia, and he believes that the
same may be said of Russia's feeling to-
ward Japan.