New-York tribune., 1902-04-06
ENJOYS IN THE FAR EAST
NJ. PAUL LESSAR AND SIR ERNEST
sADow. WHO REPRESENT RUSSIA
AND ENGLAND AT PEK1NG.
ARE BURDENED WITH
RESPONSIBILITY

RESPONSIBILITY
II is fortunate for the peace OF the world that
Great Britain and Russia should be represented just
now at Picking by two such able men as taul
Lessar and Ernest Satow. who curiously enough
are both regarded to certain degree as intruoers
by the rank and file of the Diplomatic corps fof
Lessar is an engineer by profession, while Sir
Ernest Satow is a member of the bar, and belonged
to the consular before his exceptional diplo
matte skill led to his transfer 20 the line ana 10
his appointment envoy. The situation IN tne
Far East is exceedingly ominous. Difficulties or
every kind accommodating. some of them fore
and others OF altogether unexpected char-
acter: and while there are few who believe that
the long promised great European war can bo
avoided altogether. the two ministers IN question
may be depended on to stave off the definite out
break of the conflict long possible.
No who has taken the trouble to keep HIM
self acquainted with the march of events IN the
Old World during the last few years believes for
moment that the newly concluded alliance be-
tween England and Japan is calculated to pro-
mote the maintenance Of peace. That II brings
Great Britain and the Muscovite Empire within
measurable distance Of than at any
moment since 1873 cannot be denied. England by
sssociating herself with Japan in the Orient has
strengthened her position in that part Of the world
70 a greater Gegree than she could have done by
aliying herself with any European power, with
United States For in addition to the fact that
she Is able TO call upon the services Of the
MIkado's splendid navy we'll as upon his Won
derfully up date and effective army OF some six
hundred Thousand men, She has won, by means of
her understanding with Japan. the confidence Of
tho Chinese Government and Of the Chinese people
TO a extent enjoyed by no other Christian nation
The Chinese trust the japanese men of the
same race. Of the same creeds and as a people
who have classics traditions and many other things
3n common with them This confidence the Chinese
now extending to the English, since the latter
have identified themselves with Japan. and 1t Is
probable that ere long China will either be brought
ento the Anglo-Japanese alliance on a footing or
equality or else in the role of a ward Indeed the
Anglo-Jspanese alliance IS already pledged in
measure to the integrity Of the Chinese Empire, and
N consequence Of this that China IS presenting
euch resolute front in declining to accede TO the
C1ar's demands for the virtual surrender 10 him
X Nanchuria-
This attitude the part OF the Picking Govern
anent is Justly ascrbed to Japanese influence. and
also TO that Of England. In fact japanese infu-
Is predominant in China just at present. and
.ever,where England looms In the rear OF her
sOrfental ally. German and French military In
setructors and all other European employees Of the
Cfinese Government are being dismissed and their
places taken by japanese. II is the latter who
reorganising the army, the navy and every other
branch of public service with the solitary excep-
ssion OF the Customs Department, which remains. as
heretofore. in charge Of the Englshman who first
established IT, namely Sir Robert Hart recently
appointed by Emperor and by the Empress
Dowager tc the post ot guardian Of the heir appar-
snt And it is generally understood and reported
that the English doing everything in their
power encourage the Chinese to submit them
selves TO japanese instruction and to place them
selves under Japanese direction in preference to
that of any other nation. What the effect of this
Japanese activity In every branch of Chinese Off
cial life will be remains 10 be General Cor
don. Of KhartoGm: Lord Wolseey and others who
have STUDIED the Chinese have often waxed elo-
Quent IN their predictions about the matter. In
deed. It looks If China, with her teenng popula-
ton of four hundred millions and her boundless
possibilities, at last being awakened life
progress and vigor by kindred nation of the same
hue and race, backed and encouraged by Great
Britain.
While this alliance with Japan thus vastly in
creases the strength Of Great Britain in the Far
East, endows her with prestige which she never
before enjoyed in China and Japan, and converts
her in the eyes Of these two nations into the most
Important and powerful of all Christian States it
has had the effect of saddling her with terrible
responsibilities. She forced conclude this
treaty with Japan in order safeguard her COM
mercial interests in China. The latter constitutes
the largest market for British trade and industry
the face of the globe. Alone and without Japan
England would have been able retain this
market She would gradually have been frozen out
OF it through slice after slice of the Chinese En-
pire being annexed by some foreign power. and
would have naturally hesi1ated embark upon a
with. say, Germany, perhaps Russia ana
France combined. for the sake of preventing
pire Allied Japan, England now depend
upon keeping the whole of China open TO her trade
and to the Irade OF the world This is her q
vital issue.
But the cost Of this. and which she may be called
upon at any moment TO pay, is war with Russia 1t
4e true that according to the terms of the alliance
which have been made public England is only
bound to TO the support OF Japan in the event
OF her ally being confronted by more than one
foreign power But in the Joint note issued by the
French and Russian governments the other DAY, by
way of response 10 the menace contained in the
terms of the Anglo-Japanese alliance the latter
thoroughly given to understand that in the
Arf Of any
Found acting together.
Now. neither King Edward nor any Of his sub
fects are anxious for war with Russia or with
France The commercial and industrial relations
Of both these countries with England are enor-
1nous that King, government and people in Great
Britain would go the most extreme lengths to
avert any such conflict Japan. however fs differ
emily situated, Her people are not only anxious
but burning for war with Russia And she
knows that both her army and her navy are thor
oughly prepared for the conflict and that every
month that the latter is delayed handcaps her
more heavily by giving time Russia strengthen
her defences and to increase the size Of her army
Eastern Siberia Then. too, her finances In a
deplorable condition. owing to her immense mill