The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-25
FLY IN THE OINTMENT

FLY IN THE OINTMENT
government, after the first glow OF salts
faction over the Anglo-Japanese alliance
and the conjoint note of France and Rus
STA presented last week by the ambassa-
doris of those powers at Washington. Is
perceiving that, with all these assurances
from these shareholders, the outlook for
q continued observance OF the pledges TO
preserve the open door and concurrently
insure the territorial integrity OF China
is not as promising as would appear on
paper.
There is, indeed, something amusing in
the declaration of Russia and France that
they are we'll pleased with the Anglo
Japanese alliance, as 1t supports the es-
sential principles Of their policy, which
everybody knows has been predatory as to
China in the extreme The reservation at
the end of the declaration is the real in
tent of the document. II any other pow
ers, they say, act inimically, or If dis
orders occur again in China, they re
serve to themselves the right to defend
their interests" This declaration fol-
lows rather closely the Anglo German
Agreement made in 1900, whereby these
powers stood for maintaining the integ-
rity of China until some wicked power
might break the peace, and then, every
man for himself, with sphere extension
In full view The official Messenger OF st.
Petersburg Indignantly denies any preda-
tory purpose of Russia in Manchuria and
asks how it can be for her interest to
place obstacles to peace and the open
door at the present time? It would not
seem so and yet Russia holds on to Man
churia for the same reason that Germany
holds on to Shantung, and is strengthen
ing her position there, and France holds
on 20 the territory which she has acquired
from China on the south. And here is
Japan, young and skittish, only thirty
years emerged from the exclusiyeness and
seclusion and backwardness of the far
orient, celebrating with shout and song
and dance and fervid oratory, in every
village Of the island empire. the alliance
with England, as if that compact insured
to every conceivable ambition magnifi-
cent fulflment. II Japan is embroiled
with Russia, England is bound by the
alliance to help her through the trouble,
and it is easy to see how little Japan can,
under this compact, become something Of
a thorn in John Bulls side by respond
ing to the menace of Russia by passionate
attack to regain Korea, which became
hers by right of conquest in 1894 Russia,
France and Germany forced her to aban-
don her claim. movement which was in
the interest Of Russia, who, after Count
Ignatieff's cunning acquisition of the low
er Amoor valley and maritime Manchuria
In $780, has never ceased plotting for fur
Their extension of territory southwark into
China. She has traded the insignificant
Kurile islands with Japan for the sout h.
ern half of the big island of Saghalien
and is now in practical possession of lower
Manchuria, continuing her railway con-
struction under a concession from China
running eighty years, which will give her
Ice free ports and naval stations more
suitable to her purpose than Vladivos-
the Siberian railway and it's Manchurian
branches all for the good of the COM
merce Of the world. Such benign purpose
does not we'll fit the Russian methods
Russian statesmen have gained their
purposes chiefly by secret and incessant
5ects OF power she is wishing to injure,
Russia's acquisitions in European and
Aslatlc Turkey have been made largely
In this way. A revolt is precipitated and
she steps in and extends her boundaries
rs IN 1873, which, although costly exper-
tence, left Russia large gamer. Her at
tempt to push down to Herat in 1885
was checked by the British government,
Which forced new delimitation to keen
Russia north of Sarakhs, but Russia has
since gone south of that point and her
current scheme to extend her Cent raj
Asia railway system to Bassorah at the
mouth OF the Tigris river shows how in
estlhgulshable Is her passion for conquest.
even On somewhat attenuated purse.
The present gushing assurances Of unset
nshness on her part and a fervent desire
TO oeneht the world will have to be taken
at their proper valuation and read in tbe
light OF old Adam lads past duplicity
and selfishness
our government, while reading the con-
joint note OF Russia and France, no doubt
taxes care to read between the lines
. and 1t should not place much confidence
ID the Anglo-Japanese alliance as a varv
enectlve defense of the open door. AS to
tnat' our government has gone too far to
modify its policy in any degree whatever
Although litt1a atlantic,