Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-26
WITH JAPAN II BECOMES
A MATTER OF FIGHTING.
STRONG IMPRESSION USED BY THE
SECRETARY OF H JAPANESE
LEGATION IN LONDON.
WAR MUST COME SOON OR LATE.
GOVERNMENT FuILy
AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF
THE SITUATION.

LONDON, March 25-The Chinese
minister called al the foreign Office to-
day and urged the British government
riots, the continuation which to-
prevent Russia IRON securing the nee
essary signatures of the Manchurian
agreement. The foreign office is still
In the dark tonight as to whether
the agreement will be signed or al
lowed to lapse when the time expires
March 26. The officials of the Japa-
$ legation are inclined to believe
Russia will succeed in getting the
necessary signatures.
The situation is still more complica-
ted owing to the fact, ascertained by q
representative OF the Associated Press
to-day, that there are two secret
treaties, one of which is to be signed
at St Petersburg, dealing with Rus
sia's military control OF Manchuria,
and another to be signed at Pekin,
dealing with her civil powers.
The Chinese appeals for support
have failed to produce any direct re-
monstrances from Great Britain or
apparently from any other power to.
St Petersburg for Russia persistently
adhered to her contention that the Sc
agreements concern no n except
herself and China. On this ground
Great Britain'S request for copies OF
the agreement was abruptly declined.
1T is explained at the foreign Office
here that it would be a dangerous and
useless breach Of diplomatic proceed
IRE to endeavor to enter upon expos
tulations with Russia which would
only be based upon information sup
piled by the Chinese.
In other words the copies of secret
treaties and alleged notifications of
them recently given to the powers by
the Chinese are worthless documents
and will remain such until Russia
herself chooses to communicate the
text of the actual treaties and modi-
fications.
In the absence of the Japanese min
lister in London, Baron Hayashi, Mr..
Matsui, first secretary of the Japanese
legation who was interviewed this at
ternoon by a representative of the As
SOCldLtu II6SSs mdut a. IOiupi CiiSuciNo
statement of the issues involved. He
said:
"Russia's insistence, China's help
lessness and the probable victory OF
Russian diplomacy tomorrow will
bring us to the brink of a dangerous
situation in which none of the powers
is so deeply concerned as Japan. Ev-
en- if the secret treaties have been mod
flied, as is alleged, the changes are so
trifing as Ito make the documents
thoroughly Objectionable to Japan.
Assuming that China signs the
treaties. | suppose Great Britain, Ger
many and the United States will pro-
test to Russia. But that is about as far
as they will go and will be al emuch as
they will get. With Japan it becomes
a matter of fighting.
"The question is whether we are to
fight Russia now or to fight her later
on. She has no right to Manchuria.
and If she secures Manchuria she will
be on the way to securing Korea.
."Our government, | believe, are SER
iously considering the crisis. Their
eyes are wide open and they will not
be driven to preeipitate action by the
jingoists of Japan. who are openly
clamoring for immediate Yet, II
they see that war is unavoidable they
will not hesitate to strike.
Japan has no reason to be afraid
as to the result. Many reasons occur
to the average Japanese mind in ia
vor of forcing at the present moment
a struggle which must come eventual
ly. The chief reason against so do
ing is the fact that Japan Is just be-
ginning a new industrial era, which
would be temporarily killed should we
ende1Eor by force Of arms to prevent
Russian Entertainments.
IF we follow the lead of other pow
ers and do not threaten hostilities, We
realize that we must sit down tamely
and see any other nation step in to
make agreements similar TO those
which China seems on the verge ok
signing with Russia. This would mean
the partition of the Chinese empire
and the end OF the open door II we
opposed 1t, we naturally think we
would have the moral support of the
United States. which has been the
champion of thees principles and also
- C~oo+ nritnf, md CarpoarvO