The sun., 1900-07-19
Why Distrust japan?

Nearly four weeks elapsed between the
date OF the last Official communication from
the foreign legations In Pekin and July o..
when the massacre Ia reported to have
taken place. In that interval . japanese
force Of twenty thousand men might
have reached the Chinese capital. had II
been despatched on the receipt Of the
last appeal for aid from the legations.
and had II followed the short northern
route from the seacoast along the foot
hills which border the Great Wall on the
south. The Mikado's Government was
ready. and even eager, TO send such an
army. and 1t is certain that at least two Of
the great Powers. namely the United States
and Great Britain. would gladly have ac-
cepted the offer. But Japan could not send a
force Of the size named without the consent
OF all the treaty Powers. and no immediate
and unqualified consent was forthcoming
on the part Of Russia. which required ex-
plicit assurances touching the Mlkado' g
ultimate designs. Hence the delay. which.
there is only too much reason to fear, has
cost the lives Of hundreds Of foreigners in
Pekin.
1t la fearful responsibility which has
been assumed by Russia and by those
Powers which have shared her unwilling
ness to make Japan their mandatory in the
name Of civilization The motives by which
the st. Petersburg Government was actu-
ated are sufficiently obvious. Had Japa-
nese army rescued the legations in Pekin
from massacre. the treaty Powers could
not have withheld from the Mikado the
only recompense which. in all likelihood, he
would have accepted. namely the right to
control and colonize Corea. But the in
terposition Of a Japanese Corea between
the Russian naval fortresses at Vladivostock
and Port Arthur would have rendered diff
cult, il not impossible. the establishment Of
Russian ascendancy in Manchuria. Conse-
quently. the position taken by the Car q
advisers was that the task OF delivering the
legations at Pekin must be committed either
to a Russian army or to a Joint force In
which japan should be represented only In
proportion to her population.
While Russia's reluctance to see the work
Of rescue entrusted to japan is intelligible
enough. It is less easy to understand why
Germany and France did not insist as
early AZ June ~ that such a course was
not only expedient but demanded by the
paramount duty owed to the unfor-
tunate foreigners exposed to slaughter
In the Chinese capital. II is true that. in
European politics. France considers her
self bound by species Of alliance TO CO.
operate with Russia and that she upheld
the Cars demand for the revision OF the
Shimonoseki Treaty. which deprived Japan
OF the Lau-Tung Peninsula. II is also true
that Germany took part in the interpo-
sition which robbed the Mikado Of the ter
ritorial compensation which he had fairly
earned, and which. had he retained. would
have given him preponderant influence
AT Pekin. We do not hesitate to say that
but for Russia 8 interference with the Shimo-
noseki Treaty, China. under the impact OF
Japanese example and advice, would by
this time have been well advanced in the
path OF liberal reforms. and all sporadic
outbursts Of fanaticism and savagery
would have been quickly suppressed.
Even in England at the time. however
there were those who looked distr,istfully al
the prospect Of Japanese ascendancy at
Pekin. and the misgiving seems to have
been shared by Lord RosEBERY, who was
then Minister for Foreign Affairs. for. had
he offered to support the Mikado. the
attempt to upset the Shimonoseki TREATY y
would have been abandoned. Even now. one
/ hears at times note Of warning from the
London press against permitting the "yel.
/ low race tn acquire. under the headship OF
Japan. the almost irl e'istible strength which
! its numbers and its natural resources
would derive from Western civilization
Thus the Spectator. which. usually. s 6