The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-10-21
NO WAR OVER KOREA.
J. :. FnsSrtt Tells Why Russia and
japan VIII Not Fight.

Japan VIII Not Fight.
ELNIBA, y. y. oct. 21.-Ex-Seuator J.
SiolJ Fassott takes emphatic issue with
the views Of Dr. Nicholas Sem, professor
of surgery in the University of Chicago.
who predicts war between Russia and
Japan for the possession of Korea Mr.
FaSs,tt has extensive mining and other
business interests in Korea. and las spent
many months there I'm developing them.
He has made a careful study Of the politi-
cal situation as it affects Korea. and his
views are the result OF thorough knowl-
edge OF the existing conditions there Mr.
Fassett said today:
Every few months there is n renewal
OF the rUmor that there is 10 be war be
tween Russia and Japan over Korea The
facts are these. briefly AT present Korea
IS luu,p pendent She became independent
as "a result of the treaty between the Pow
tTS al the conclusion Of the Japan-China
war. She celebrated her independence by
declaring herself to be an Empire. in
stead of Kingdom, and the Emperor
took on the title H. order TO illustrate to
an his people that he stood in the same
rank with the strong rulers OF Russia. OF
China. and Of Japan, the Interpretation Of
the word emperor meaning king OF
kings.
Russia covets Korea because through
Tho peninsula she can reach the sea which
VIII be open in the winter Neither Nlad-
livestock, Port Arthur. nor Nieuchwang is
open IN the winter, whereas Gensan. IN
Northern Korea, and Fusau. in Southern
Korea. are open Japan can hardly afford
TO have Russia in possession OF Korea, be
cause from the lower point Of Korea. Tsu-
China. an island belonging 10 Japan. is in
SlEnt from the coast, and from Tsu-Chi-
ma II Is only a few miles TO the coast Of
the main island Of Japan. and a modern
cannon could almost reach Japan from
the southern peninsula of Korea
ON the other hand, Russia can hardly
auord to have Japan posse IS Korea. be
cause Il would bring Japan to the Yalu
River and 10 the very borders Of AIanchu-
ria Neither power can afford to have
Korea. because Of the enormous expense
attendant upon the protection Of three
thousand miles Of seacOast Neither
wants the other 20 have it, The undOubt-
cd facts are that both Russia and Japan
are spIrring for possession. and the out
come rs likely to be that the political in
tyErIty and neutrality Of Korea may be
guaranteed by all the powers interested
IN preserving the peace Of the Orient
At the present time il Is an open UueS-
ton which influence is dominant In ko-
T'd- the Russian OF thS japanese The
japanese arc powerful in Korea by vca-
son of the intimacy of their trade reia-
tons. All the fishing ports Of Korea are
( filed with japanese fishermen. There are
thousands o. Japanese immigrants who
are settling along the coasts and in the in
terror towns OF Korea, and it Is alleged
by those who are familiar with this inya-
sion that these Japanese immigrants are
all OF them trained soldiers. It is. OF
course, noticeable that Russia has in
creased the number Of her war vessels IN
racine waters. Dut she IS IN no condition
10 have q naval collision at the pTgseD nj
time with Japan for the Japanese naval
T. strength I'm the Pacific is overwhelmingly
superior TO the strength of Russia Be
SIDES that, Russia has no adequate base
of supplies for feet
II the Russian fleet should be caught IN
the h1rbor Of NladivOstok Il would be a
vi hEW 100
cruEhers, 10 get he- ships out IN the win
ter. and after they got out Of Jhe harbOr
there Is no proper place fo- them 10 go
IN case OF war My own Judgment Is that
until Russia Is 50 powerfully entrenched
in Nauchuria that she can afford to lib
crate FOR action an army Of 30. 30 men a.
least. and until she has a naval force in
TN taclhc oredu approximately rs pow
cTful as that Of Japan. there viii be no
war between Russia- and Japan. Russia
q IS not strong enough TO begin war. so far
IS concerns men. munitions and ships
Japan ls not strong enough 10 begin war
because of her poverty. Both nations need
{ money. AID are borrowers in the world $
market. While this is true. neither OF
them can afford TO be caught MAPPING. and
] think this fact eXlains the activity which
Dr. Som noticed in Korea OF course.
from the talk Of people, either in Russia
or Japan, u is very easy 20 infer that
there is bound TO be a war. but IL would
Z De- rash man who would venture 10 pre-
/ dict with certainty that that war was
The situation may be summed up thus.
Neither Russia nor Japan can .fford 10
Z have The other In possession of Korea
neither can afford 10 take Korea herself.
as against The wishes Of The other. neither
nation can AFFORD 90 have WAR with the
other no nation Interested I'm maintain
+ ing The peace of the Orient can afford 20
have these two nations NJ war with each
other War between Russia and Japan.
In an its consequences. is too serious o.
I De entered upon lightly for Il is iTnp75=i-
hoe
and Russia should br confined 10 naval
operations between those two Govern
meufs. The first gun fired i'm such "a coll
lsiua would simply be the beginning OF
commandment that would revCTbsTata
around the entire Pacific Coast reaching
. into the Arabian and Indian Oceans. and
embracing the entire Russian and British
frontiers in Asia So ] think there ir uo
I danger OF "a serious collision ar pr.sels-''