The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-03-09

ion IN Europe to the effect that the Kai-
ser may refuse to interfere with the Man
churian plans of her great neighbor. The
kaiser's Government at heart is perhaps
not greatly opposed to the principle Of
territorial acquisition, if we may judge
from the Kaio-chou adventure. On the
other hand. there may be some ground
for the theory that the British Cabinet
has had knowledge in advance of the
position which Germany would assume
and is acting with greater vigor than
otherwise it might as Il result of that in
formation
II is understood that pourparIers are
passing freely between London and
Washington. and between these points
and Tokyo, with the purpose of discuss
ing the feasibility Of joint action Our
own State Department. it is reported, has
instructed our Ambassadors in Europe in
line with the views Of Downing Street,
and lastly. Secretary Hay has addressed
a note to the Chinese Government, warn
ing it o. the InexpedienCy and danger
Of contracting engagements With any III
diYidual Power or Powers regarding ter
ritory. while the present negotiations at
Pekin are in progress.
All this looks rather bellicose- and no
doubt the conditions are not without a
| menace Of serious trouble, particularly
as Japan is pushing military ana naval
preparations for possible war without
| any attempt at conceaIment- What may
| eyentuate. no doubt viii largely depend
| upon the way in which the Concert
| Powers shall take sides. If the United
| States, Great Britain, and Japan are able
! to agree upon common policy and plan,
| the adhesion of Germany would probably
| render the coalition SO strong that Rus
| STA would again recede and offer what
| ever guarantees might be insisted upon
| But Russia might be less willing to sub
| nit to dictation were Germany 10 re-
/ main an uninterested spectator, and
! France back the Muscoyite hand active
| Iy.
| We can hardly Yet discern the shadow
| of the battle of Armageddon in the
| crisis, though experience adnaonishes Us
| that in such a situation as the question
| Of Russia in Manchuria presents the
world is uncomfortable. like a powder
| house in which somebody is always
1 moving around with q lighted pipe
What makes for peace. however, more
]
| that Russia can hardly desire war al
present in the unfinished state Of hel
| imperial railway system and the heavy
| burdens of taxation which the policy o.
| rapid material Development has imposes
| upon her people. It is doubtful If the
| Cars treasury could sustain the added
/ strain of a great war at this time. an1
| we shall be mistaken If his ministers do
not advise him to avoid IL. Most likely
! he would accept such advice caeerfully
for nothing is more generally believed il
England and on the Continent C Europe
/ than that Nicholas II is personally Z
man of peace, who instinctiVely abhors
/ VIZ for its tears and carnage and end
/ less chain of horrors.
Between the unpreparedness Of his
country for hostnities and his OWL
I wishes and scruples. there ought to be
a very good chance that the Russian
{ Government may seek and find an ami
( cable solution which shall quiet the sus-
/ picior.s Of other States. and SO avert a
crisis which might be deporable IN its
/ consequences 10 the peace OF the world