Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-03-28
JAPAN
FOR WAR
Island Empire Alarmed at
Entertainments OF
Russia.
Will Latter Secure Inn
portant Terms From
China?
If so rlanChuria Goes
and Korea Is
-Ienaced.

London, March 26.-The Chinese
minister, Sir Chin Chen Lo Feng Luh'
called at the foreign office yesterday
and urged that the British govern
ment bring pressure TO bear in order
to prevent Russia from securing the
necessary signatures to the Manchur-
ian agreement. The foreign office
is still in the dark as to whether the
agreement will be signed or allowed
70 1anse when the time expires today.
The officials of the Japanese legation
are inclined to believe that Russia
will succeed in getting the necessary
signatures. The situation Is SUN
more complicated owing to the TACT
mat there are two secret treatles'
one of which is to be signed at St
Petersburg dealing with Russia
military control of Manchuria and an
other to be signed at Pekin deahng
with her civil powers.
Chinese appeals for support nave
failed to produce any direct remon-
strances from Great Britain or APP
parently from any other powers TO 81
Petersburg. for Russia persistently
adhered to her contention that the
secret agreements concern no one eN-
cent herself and China. On this
ground Great Britain's request for
COPIES Of the agreement nave
been abruptly declined. 1t is eA-
plained at the foreign office mere
that it would be dangerous and use
less breach of diplomatic procedure
to endeavor to enter upon eNpostula-
lions with Russia which would only
he based upon information suppled
nv the Chinese. In other words
comics of the secret treaties and al
legged notifications of them recently
given to the powers by the Chinese
are worthless documents and VIII re-
main such until Russia herself
chooses to communicate the text OF
actual treaties and notifications. In
the absence of the Japanese minister
in London, Baron Hayashi, Matsui, the
first secretary of the Japanese lega-
ton, made a comprehensive statement
of the issues involved. He said:
"Russia's insistence and China's
helplessness and the probable victory
of Russian diplomacy tomorrow Will
bring us to the brink of dangerous
situation in which none of the powers
is so deeply concerned as Japan.
Even if secret treaties have been mod
fled as is alleged, the changes are
so trif1ing as to 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 about as much
as they will get. With Japan it is
matter of fighting. The question is
whether we are TO fight Russia
now or 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, is
seriously considering the crisis. The
officials eyes are wide open and they
will not be driven to precipitate &C
ton by the jingoists of Japan who
are openly clamoring for immediate
war. Yet, if they see war is unavoid.
able 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 favor
of forcing at the present moment the
struggle which must come eventually.
The chief reason against so doing is
the fact that Japan is just beginning
a new industrial era which will be
temporarily killed should we endeavor
by force Of arms to prevent Russian
encroachments.
II we follow the lead of other pow
ers and do not threaten hostilities. !
We realize we must sit down tamely
an see any other nation step in and
make ayr ements similar 10 those
which China seems on the verge OF |
signing with Russia. This would mean |
the partition Of the Chinese empire (
and the end Of the open door If we |
opposed it We naturally think we |
would have the moral support Of the |
United States which has been the |
champion Of these principles and also /
OF Great Britain and GERMANY"