The Washington times., 1901-10-23
Russia and Japan.

Russia and Japan.
The visit OF Marquis Ito, Japan's
greatest statesman, naturally directs
public attention TO the position Of the
Aiikado's Empire in the Orient, its pres
ent interests and future prospects. II
has been suggested that the purpose OF
the marquis visit is to negotiate an al
lance between his country and the Two
great English-speaking nations. Ihat
idea may be dismissed at once, Tor as
matters now stand such an alliance
would be wholly out of the question,
and it is fair to assume that Ito is fully
aware of the fact. But aside from any
proposal for actual alliance, it is not
unreasonable to believe that ne hopes to
strengthen the ties of friendship be-
tween Japan and the two countries
mentioned to such an extent that joint
action with reference to Asiatic affairs
might easily be one of the possibilities
of the not distant future.
Everything indicates that the time is
not so far off when Japan may stand in
need of strong support. The island en-
pire is a country of comparatively lin
tied resources, and within its present
territory 1t can hardly develop upon the
scale that will be necessary to make
and keep it a world power''-a posi-
ton which Japan is very anxious. to
hold.
japanese craftsmanship is impressed
with the idea that more territory is re-
quired. If she expands it must be upon
the Asiatic mainland. Her eyes are
turned longingly upon Korea. 1t is said
that her people are settling in the Her
NIT Kingdom at the rate of twenty
thousand annually, and that pro-Jap-
anese sentiment is making rapid head
way in that country. But there is a
serious obstacle in the way of Japan's
absorption of Korea, and that obstacle
is nothing less formidable than the
great Empire of Russia That country
also wants Korea, which lies to the
eastward of Manchuria, the Chinese
province of which the Cars Govern
ment already has possession. Korea is
not a large country. 1t contains about
eighty thousand square miles, and the
population is. perhaps, twelve millions.
Securely in the possession of Japan, the
latter country would have a firm foot
hold upon the continent, with territory
Immediately abutting both Manchuria
and Siberia Whether this would be an
advantage ultimately in case Of conflict
with Russia is point upon which there
may be some room for a difference of
opinion. But be that as 1t may, Japan
is intensely anxious to extend her SOW
ereignty over Korea. Russia wants the
country mainly for its ocean frontage.
and the commercial advantages which
it would give.
Neither Russia nor Japan has any
right, legal or moral, to the object of
their mutual desires. but that will not
prevent them from fighting for it when
the time comes. If Russia can hold
Manchuria, as she probably can, and
complete her trans-Siberian railway, as
she certainly will soon, in such a strug-
gle 1t would seem as II Japan would be
considerably overmatched. The Japa-
nese people are said to be eager for war
with Russia, but that is in no way in
dicative of what the probable outcome
would be. japanese statesmen under
stand better the colossal power of Rus
SAei- 1iIAiAN ~ - DNN AAt1tdAe- e-A h4AeS tiiry
should seek strong alliance, or, at
least, TO make friendships which may
serve them well in time of need.
AS before intinated, it would be i'm
possible at this time to draw the United
States into an alliance against Russia
Great Britain's interests in Asia are an
tagonistic to those Of Russia, but at
this iuncture the British military now
er is completely tied up in South Afri-
ca. So 1t is quite doubtful whether that
country would now look with favor
upon such an alliance. 1t is much safer
to conclude that England win pursue
waiting and somewhat conciliatory
policy with reference to all information
al affairs until the situation in South
Africa shall have materially improved
But all of this may not prevent Mar
quis Ito from laying a foundation upon
which something substantial may here
after be built so far as Great Britain is
concerned. Whether his visit has any
international significance at all is pure
ly matter of conjecture. 1t is, how
ever, perfectly natural that such con-
lectures should be INDUCED, in view of
obvious possibilities of trouble between
his country and Russia.