New-York tribune., 1901-07-22
TOPICS IN JAPAN.
pATTITUDE OF RUSSIAN MINISTER TO
.COREA-THE NEW CABINET-MURDER
OF HosHI -sHIPBUILDING.


FORE Count Won Naldersee arrived here. His de-
iparture may have had no significance, but 1T is
certain that there is a personal feeling between
him and the Japanese Government. The reason
is Tot far TO seek. The Russian Government
Judges of a minister's ability by the success
which he achieves and, since its policy is con-
sistent and unvarying, considerable LATITUDE Is
permitted 20 the heads Of legations. If they fall
or endanger the maintenance of peace their
actions are simply dsavowed; IT is stated that
they have exceeded their Instructions and
they are temporarily removed.
NJ Pavloff was secretary to the legation at
Peking at the time when Count Cassini was CIV
ing lessons in diplomacy to Prince Kung and Ii
Hung Chang. and by the price which he
charged and secured, achieved brilliant results
NJ. Pavlor, therefore. was in excellent school
He ie &. fine linguist; his French is perfect, his
English without any noticeable accent. But he
lacks the patience and ripe reflection Of the Rus
sian Ambassador at Washington.
NJ. PaNloT has certainly most difficult task.
Russia for the last fifty years has considered
iCorea as its own. It has, thinks 1t has. what
lone might call pre-emption claim. The Japan
:ese however cannot be made TO it in that
light They fancy that they. too. hold a claim.
and date il from the days of Jingu Kogo. way
back into the dimness of myths. AS to the
Coreans they cut figure in the question; they
prefer the aiI-felow-we-met Russian TO the
undersized japanese. who stands tiptoe to
give them a cuff the The Russians
understand TO perfection the art OF benevolent
assimilation" but it must be appreciated.
Every time NJ. Pavlof has advanced cautiously
the pawns upon the Corean chessboard the Jap
anese threaten TO upset it by going to war,
proceeding which Ruseia for the present must
avoid at any price His Excellency, therefore
md rio he
japanese for his failures.
ARRESTED FOR TAKING SNAPSHOTS.
Some few weeks ago one Of the vessels of the
Russian volunteer fleet was coaling at Nagasaki
when two officers of the ship. or passengers
there is dispute about their standng-strolled
ashore and took few snapshots. This is a
dangerous proceeding in Japan. since the
thorities look upon IT as preliminary 70 in
vasion. This time it really innocent
pastime. but the offenders were arrested. After
brief examination ct the police station they
released. but afterward condemned to i'm
prisonment by default. for the vessel had left
the port when the called up in court
Authentic reports from Nagasaki state that the
warrants have been withdrawn. the first instance
OF the kind since foreigners enjoyed the advan-
tage Of being under japanese jurisdiction.
How much NJ Pavloff's accidental presence had
70 do with this extraordinary proceeding cannot
be stated, but it has aroused tempest among
the natives. The japanese are not in the humor
TO set their laws aside for any foreigner, and to
do 1t in favor Of a Russian is like holding a red
rag before a young and conceited bull. At the
game time, the suggestion may be offered that
some Of the police regulations are arbitrary and
puerile. and II NJ. PavioT was instrumental in
tearing hole in one of them. he deserves well
of the foreign community.
THE NEW CABINET MINISTER'S
Here is fine stumbling block for the new
Cabinet. which '"The Japan Mail" says is only
an interregnum. The who accepted office
at this time gave a decided proof Of devotion
Although many of the ministers have held
portfolios. they may be designated as new men,
Only two members of the Ito Cabinet remain:
Admiral YaInamoto. of the navy and Baron Ko-
dana. Of the War Department, two too impor-
tant branches to be made to suffer from the in
cident Of change General Viscount Katsura
is a man OF ffty-four, who established a reputa-
ton In the campaign of 1S94-95. He held the
portfolio Of war in former Cabinet and is
therefore no tyro in diplomacy. Viscount Yosbi-
kama has also been a Cabinet member and has
the reputation Of being good all around minis
ter "ad interim" He is the head OF the DEPART
ment of Communications. That Of Justice is
taken by Keigo Kiura, a new man to most for
Tfty and ability. Some has been Minister Of Com
merce and Agriculture Besides administering
the finances, a pretty difficult task at this time
he viii direct the Foreign Affairs until Kouura
formerly OF Washington. and now minister at
feklns' can be spared from that political caul-
aron. 1t was thought that Komura would de-
cliiie' IN Which case 1t was understood that Aoki
would join the Cabinet The man at the head of
Foreign Affairs must be intimately acquainted
with Russian diplomacy Indeed the foreign
policy OF Japan may be summed up as check
Ing Russia's advance in Eastern Asia.
Dtsumf, in charge of Home Affairs and
Hirata- OF the Department of Commerce and
Agriculture, are comparatively new men, DIR
hiKuchi, who resigned the presidency of the
Imperial University to become Minister of Edu-
cation, is one Of the most interesting members
Of the Cabinet. He gained honors i'm uatbe-
matics at the University of Cambridge Eng
land, and, besides being an earnest, hard work
ing student. is body and soul devoted TO the
cause of education. His apparent promotion is
in reality sacrifice, for his hands VIII be tied
for lack Of funds. What money Japan can pro-
ouce goes TO the army and navy.
Look at IL pleases, II japan wouId
guard her Independence she must continue 10
make just such sacrifices. Events plainly dem
onstrate that Russia has not renquished the
tdea Of owning Japan's lttoral at some time
Patriotic frugal. economical and thrifty as they
undoubtedly are. would Japan's statesmen incur
the risk Of denuding their country of bullion nm
less such spectre discernible? The suc-
cessive Cabinets have certainly given evidence
OF moderation; some have even sacrificed their
existence rather than plunge their country into
an I'll considered Is il, then, rational TO
suppose that these men. passionless in all save