The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-22
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER % 1900.
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.

What is the attitude OF Japan towards
China? What is the attitude OF Russia
towards China2 What is the attitude of
Russia and Japan towards each other?
These are questions that are being asked
by all people Of all nations who are I'M
ten-sted is the China situation. It has
been said that Japan is DESTROYS of form.
ing an alliance with China IN order that
the yellow people of the East may exclude
all foreigners 1t has also bsen said that
Russia has designs ON China, that she
wants to absorb AIanchuria and enter into
some sort of an arrangement with the
Chinese government by which she will be
practically in control Of Chinese affairs.
1t has also been said that both Russia and
Japan have designs on Korea and that
they are apt to fall out and have a fight
either about China or Korea, or both. In
deed. some of the experts have gone SO far
as to say that war between Russia and
japan is inevitable, that each nation has
been preparing for it for some time past,
and that it is only a question of time be-
fore open hostfities begin.
All these questions are ably discussed
by Mr.. Durham White Stepams, Counsellor
of the japanese Legation, in Golfers
Weekly of September 18th, and If Mr..
Stevens is to be believed there is no foun-
dation whatever for the contention that
Japan is going TO be a n1a-plot in the set
Element of the Eastern question Mr..
Stevens deyotes the first part of his article
TO a. review of the relationship between
China and Japan. the purpose Of Which
seems ID be Go show that Japan has always
been disposed to lawa on friendly terms
with her Chinese neiShbors. On the other
hand he declares that it is the disposition
of Japan to be friendly with Russia, and
says that the reports which have been
"a rupture between these two powers are
mischierous in the extreme. and without
foundation in fact. He points out that
Japan and Russia entered into an agree
1nenr two years ago. the first article Of
which provides that '.tlsa Imperial Gov
erRments OF Japan and Russia definitely
recognize the sovereignty and entire in
dependence of Korea. and mutually en-
gage to refrain from al direct interference
y
! .'N should not be Forgotten he adds,
that this IS a SOLEMN covenant between
two nations, not to be lightly broken or
sdisragarded, and that to intimate that it
may be violated at the wfim or pleasure
OF either party IS to inpute species of
bad faith. the most detestable that can
he charged against any nation claiming
TO be civilized" MIR. Stevens politely sug-
eests that these two honorable nations
that have entered into an honorabhs agree
NEST he taken at their word There IS
nothing in the real interests of either of
1hem.'' says he. which upon q fair and
Impartial examination affords reason to
suppose that they are eager to fly at
each Others throat Japan,s brightest
hopes OF prosperity and success lde IN the
development of her commercial and in
dnstrlal resources" And he thinks that
the same thing may be affirmed of Russia
As for Japan's attitude towards China.
he quotes from representative news
paper IN that country a paragraph in
which 1t Is said that Japan's proncest am
hftnon has been and ever Will be 10 iden-i
THY herself with. and TO be merged in. the
great cirren. of European Civilizations
that having attainea a certain gree OF
Success in their endeanrs In this dtrec-a
tson. and keetiiy apHeciaiing as they do
the benefits resulting In refrom. ii Is only.
natural that the Japanese should feel con-
Germ on account OF their Oldest friends,
and neaghtors, the Chinese, who are Y,,,.-
6usng With disastrous results policy ex-s