Arizona daily citizen. (Tucson, Ariz. Territory [i.e. Ariz.]) 1884-1901, 1901-03-18
RUSSIA IN
MANCHURlA.

No one can be blamed for taking
an interest in the present controversy
over the present attitude of Russia in
Manchuria, but he who expresses an
opinion as to the final outcome of the
dispute must be sure of his facts. That
Russia covet4 that portion of the Chi
nese empire is one OF the points that
must be taken as settled. Russia al.
ways covets territory, providing the ter
ritorv lies west of the Pacific and east Of
the Atlantic oceans. 1t is not on her
programme, however, to do a great
amount of fighting when she starts out
to acquire new lads, and it many also
be stated as reasonably certain that If
the powers that have taken an active
part in Chinese matters during the past
year should unite in protest against
the permanent occupation of Manchurla
Russia would explain that her inten-
tions were, and are, honorable in the
highest degree.
But, asks the Milwaukee Sentinel
viii the powers unite? "rn- Ut
years Emperor William has himself
shown indications OF growing desire
for new possessions. Before the trouble
in China bid fair to become serious and
forced Europe and America into the
field to answer riot call, the kaiser had
planted his flag on Chinese territory,
and there was reason to believe he in
tended to hold what he had taken with
ga mailed hand" Should Russia now
lead off in the partition of China by an.
nexing Manchuria, it is not at all i'm
probable that Germany may also block
out a province-or more-and assert
dominion over it. France now has 8
"sphere OF influence" which she would
no doubt like to transform into colon.
ial possession and then, too, she may be
expected to follow the lead of Russia fol
the best Of reasons.
This leaves England with her sphere
or influence, Japan with her hatred oil
Russia, and the United States with
nothing, outside the charmed circle
England does not want China partition.
ed.
She has been enjoying all the adj
vantages of trade there that would have
come to her had the territory over which
she exercised her sway been colony
instead of "sphere of influence" and
she has had none of the responsibilities
incident to colonial government. 1t has
been her aim, also, to keep the entire
empire open to her trade, having fought
many diplomatic battle to that end.
With the partitioning of China would
come the end OF all hope of England g
commerce entering any Chinese terri
tory outside of her own prescribed
sphere.
Japan hates Russia for good reasons.
1t was Russia that stepped in and shook
Japan loose when she had death grip
on the Chinese thoat, and it was Russia
that appropriated the lions share of the
spoils OF war. The dispatches say that
the Jap. is even now preparing for some
kind of trouble by gathering his fleets
and fitting them for active service.
But where do we come in? That is a
difficult question to answer. Just now
it would appear that we are endeavoring
by argument to persuade Russia that she
should withhold her hand-or at least
measures to that end have been inaugu-
rated, and England is to join us in the
movement. Should our efforts fail our
future course must be determined by
events that are still beyond our ken,
and no man lives who can tell what
those events will be. Whatever betides
we are in the family of nations ant
must bear our part like the great nation
we are.
The one hope that inspires the stu
dent of international subjects to lool
for peaceful settlement OF this contro
versy is the fact that great interna
tional war involving, practically, all tn
moet progressive and powerful nation
on earth, is so terrible to contemplat
that the men whose hands rest upon th
wheels of the ships of state will hardl
dare steer their crafts into such cor
fict.
Tucson ia