The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-03-28
JAPAN STANDS AL0N
In Her Controversy With Rus
Over the Manchuria Affair,
POWERS REFUSE TO INTERFE]

The Secretary of the Japanese
cation in London Declares I'll
with His Country 1t IL . Matter
Fighting.
London, March 2S.-The Chin
minister, Sir Chih Chen Lo Feng Il
called at the foreign office yesterdA
and urged the British government
bring pressure to bear in order to pr
vent Russia from securing the necs
sary signatures to the ManchuriY
agreement. The foreign Office is 81
In the dark as to whether the agrI
ment will be signed or allowed to la
when the time expires. The ofica
Of the japanese legation are incliR
to believe Russia will succeed in d
ting the necessary signatures.
The situation is still more comp
Gated owing to the fact, ascertained
press representative yesterday, th
there are two secret treaties, one
which is to be signed at st. Petersburg
dealing with Russian military cont1
Of Manchuria, and another, to be sig
ed at Pekin, dealing with her civ
powers.
The Chinese appeals for support hav
failed to produce any direct remon
strances from Great Britain or an
parently from any other power to s
Petersburg, for Russia persistently al
hered to her contention that the secrI
agreements concern no one except h9
self and China. On this ground Gr9
Britain's request for copies OF i
agreement was abruptly declined.
1t is explained at the foreign ofhS
here that it would be dangerous a9
useless breach Of diplomatic proceI
ure to endeavor to enter upon expd
tulations with Russia which wouI
only be based upon information sul
piled by the Chinese. In other word
the copies Of secret treaties and a
legged notifications Of them recent
given to the powers by the Chinese al
worthless documents and will remair
such until Russia herself chooses t
communicate the text of the actua
treaties and notifications.
in the absence Of the japanese min
lister in London, Baron Hayashi, Mr.
Matsui, first secretary of the Japan
ese legation, who was interviewed b
a press representative, made a compr.
hensive statement of the issues involv,
ed. He said:
"Russia's insistence, China's help
lessness and the probable victory o
Russian diplomacy will bring US to the
brink Of a dangerous situation In
which none of the powers is 80 deeply
concerned as Japan. Even II the &C.
cret treaties have been modified, as II
alleged, the changes are so trining al
to make the documents thoroughly oh.
Jectionable to Japan.
Assuming that China signs ths
treaties, l suppose Great Britain, Ger.
many and the United States will pro.
test to Russia. But that is about al
far as they will 60 and about as much
As they will get. With Japan 1t is 9
matter of fighting.
THE question is whether we are tC
fight Russia now or to fight her later
on. She has no right to Manchuria
and II she secures Manchuria she will
be on the way to securing Korea.
"Our government, l believe, is seri.
ously considering the crisis. Theil
eyes are wide open and they will not bt
driven to precipitate action by the
5ingoists Of Japan, who are openly
clamoring for immediate war. 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 favor
Of forcing at the present moment a
struggle which must come eventually
The chief reason against so doing IL
the fact that Japan is Just beginning
a new industrial era which would TEN.
porarily be killed should we endeavor
by force Of arms to prevent Russian
encroachments.
III we follow the lead Of other DOW.
ers and do not threaten hostilities, We
realize that we must sit down tamely
and see any other nation step in and
make treaties similar to 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, II We op-
posed 1t, 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"