The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
What Can Russia Do?

The more carefully we consider the
treaty between England and Japan,
the more clearly must we recognize
the magnitude of its actual and pros
pective significance. 1t is no exaggera-
ton to say that this international COM
pact has revolutionized the situation in
the Far East. This is true, whether
we look at its effect on the contracting
parties themselves, on Russia, which
suffers by it, on China. its beneficiary, or
on Powers less directly interested.
At a stroke the treaty relieves Eng
land from the isolation which, coupled
with the absorption of her military
in South Africa, has, for some
time past, paralyzed her influence in
China, where it used to be ~preponder-
ant. Should her interests in that
try now be threatened, she would be
strong in the very particular where
hitherto she has been weak, for through
her alliance with Japan she would have
at her disposal a land force superior
in numbers, discipline, equipment and
efficiency to any that a European OPP
ponent could array against her in the
Far East. Equally patent is it that.
through the alliance just concluded,
Japan becomes mighty where she was
but feeble, and no longer has anything
TO fear from the combined naval arma-
ments of Russia and France. In a
word, the lad power Of Japan and the
sea power Of Great Britain complement
each other, and, together, cons itiute a
whole which is locally irresistible.
Upon Russia's plan to acquire a mon
opoly Of Manchuria, which, ultimately.
must have led TO dominance through
out northern China, the treaty between
Japan and Great Britain falls as an
extinguisher. II Manchuria is to re-
main Chinese, the already part Y con-
structed branch of the Siberian Rail-
way to Port Arthur will become value
less for military purposes, inasmuch as.
traversing foreign territory, il could
be obstructed at any hour. The hope,
too, must be renounced OF securing
a naval station on the southeastern
coast of Corea, and of thus con-
trolling the direct maritime route be-
lNttD NldulNoNAp'h anu VII hIlUuT,
which. being thus condemned to segre-
CATION from each other will be compare
lively useless. In fine. the secret our
pose which has impelled Russia to ex-
pend vast sums of money upon the
Siberian trunk line-the purpose of
gaining preponderance on the west
coast Of the Pacifc-is now nipped in
the bud. SO far as any forecast can be
drawn from the new situation, Russia's
dream Of the conquest of Pekin is now
as far from fulhlment as her dream of
the conquest Of Constantinople. SO
long ~ the present treaty between
Japan and England shall hold good. it
will seemingly be the destiny of China
either TO remain intact and independ mt,
or become Japanese.
That the prestige of France and Ger
many has been relatively dimmed at
Pekin by the treaty between Japan
and England is too obvious to need
demonstration. OF late each Of those
Powers has had great influence with
the Chinese Court, because each was
feared. Henceiorth neither French nor
German diplomacy will be able to exert
any pressure upon China, backed as
that country will feel herself to be in
the last resort by the Japanes" Army
and the British feet. No doubt, France
and Germany will be permitted, tenn
poraTlly, at all events, To keep the small
territorial accessions which they have
won respectively in southwestern China
and in S%hantdng; but not a step further
can they now hope TO go.
What counter-move can Russia make
Even If she could secure the co6pera-
ton OF Germany as well as France,