The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-03-29
JAPAN NOT AFRAID
And is Considering the Question
Of Fighting Russia.
WAR PROBABLE At SOME TIME

Japan Not Afraid of the ResuIt-Rue
STA Has No Right In Manchuria-Ne
Other Power Az Much Interested A.
Japan.
London, March 26.-The Chinese
minister, Sir Chin Chen Lo Feng Luh
called at the foreign Office to-day and
urged the British government to bring
pressure to bear in order to prevent
Russia from securing the necessary
signatures of the Manchuria agree
ment. The foreign Office is still in the
dark as to whether the agreement will
be signed or allowed to lapse when the
time expires, March &c. The officials
of the japanese legation are inclined
to believe Russia will succeed in get
ting the necessary signatures.
The situation is still more compli-
Gated owing to the fact ascertained by
representative of the Associated
Press Monday, that there are two Sc.
cret treaties, one of which Is to be
signed at st. Petersburg, dealing with
Russia's military control of Manchuria,
and another, 20 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 ap-
parently from any other power to st.
Petersburg, for Russia persistently ad-
hered to her contention that the secret
agreements concern no one except her.
self in 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 dangerous and
useless breach Of diplomatic procedure
to endeavor to enter upon expostula-
tons with Russia, which would only
be based upon information supplied 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 her
self chooses to communicate the text
of the actual treaties and modifica.
lions.
In the absence of the Japanese min.
lister in London, Maron Hayashi, Mr..
Matsui, first secretary of the Japanese
legation, who was interviewed by a
of the Associated Press.
made a comprehensive statement of
the issues involved. He said: rus
sia's insistence, China's helplessness
and the probable victory of Russian
diplomacy to-day will bring us to the
brink of a dangerous situation in
which none of the powers is so deeply
concerned as Japan. Even II the Sc
cret treaties have been modified, as is
the changes are so trifling as
to make the document thoroughly OBJ
jectionable 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 ts 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, l believe, are Sc
riously considering the crisis. Their
eyes are wide open and they will not
be driven to precipitate action by the
jingoists of Japan, who are openly
for immediate war. Yet, IL
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 struggle which
must come eventually. The chief rea-
Japan is just beginning a new indus
trial era, which would be temporarily
killed should we endeavor by force of
arms to prevent Russian encroach-
ments.
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 of
signing with Russia. This would mean
the partition Of the Chinese empire
and the end of the open door, II 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"
Challenge Received.