New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-03

n.
believing that the propose to act in unison I'm
the affair. and that the action of the Pekine
government a few days ago. in refusing to COM
ply with the new demands made upon it by
Russia, is due to the fact that it is assured OF
the support, not merely moral but GkeWlsa ma
teriaI. of Japan. Ever since the Boxer in
sUrrection and the siege Of the Tekinz> legations.
a few years ago. the japanese have been quietly.
unobtrusiveIy. but Yet most industriousIy en-
gagged in securing Il strong hold upon the con-
Gdence and the friendship Of the chinese. who.
seeing in them men of much the same race.
faith. traditions and ethics and who are bound
to them by 4 community Of classical literature
and of industries, are ready to accept from them
counsel and instruction which they would re-
gard with distruSt suspicion and even contempt
if rendered by Europeans or Americans The
japanese, without making any fuss or attract
ing much attention have been drilling and re-
organizing the Chinese army. have been sup
planting Europeans in the great Chinese arsen-
ais. have been acting confidential advisers %
their statesmen at Picking and 70 the provincial
vicerOys In fact. they have been silently active
in every branch of Chinese military, naval and
civil administration as well as in educstiOnaI
and industrial life. This has taken place with
the knowledge and moral support OF Great
Britain and presumably Of the United state
OF course, some time must eiapse before Japan
can complete her work of reOTgdnizng the army
and the civil administration of the Celestial
Empire. and she had everything to gain by de-
laying as long as possible any conflict with Rus
sia, since each month that passes serves To in
crease the efficiency and Importance of China
as an ally.
1t is perhaps the knowledge Of this that has
led Russia east aside the mask and to pre-
eipitate events by virtually hinging the fras-
ments of her hast years treaty pledging herself
to withdraw from Nanchuria into the face OF
the powers 1t may BE- taken for granted that
she realizes that inasmuch an armed struggle
with Japan concerning Nanehuria and COrsa
is inevitable it is best To bring matters to a
crisis at once. instead of waiting until the
carbohydrates coalition has had time to de
velop its enormous and incaIcuIable latent
strength
OF course. it is just possible that Russia may
prefer to modify her demands upon the Picking
government rather than face a war with china
and Japan, which would ent1n the expenditure
of vast amount of blood and treasure. and
throw back for many yeas her economic De
velGpment and commercial prosperity That
Japan however will consent to any compromise
short of the complete evacuation Of Aiapc huria
by Russia is far less probable For years she
has been preparing for a war with Russia
realizing that with the latter in possession Of
her extensive trade IN Northern CHINA. but her
very independence and existence as an island
empire ave menaced. Every japanese man.
woman and child looks upon Russia rs the
enemy who will have to be fought 10 a finish
sooner or later, and there is no doubt that at
the present moment a with Russia would
be immensely popular with the entire japanese
nation, whose pride would. borrower. De graft
fed by the knowledge that it has the good viii
and the moral support of he United States and
Great Britain, and that it is ,ndmpioni1S the
cause of freedom of the worlds trade in North
ern China against Russa's regime of military
despOtism and commercial exclusion
There are two points which it is necessary to
bear in mind IN connection with this crisis in
the far Orient. The one is that, according to
the terms of the much discussed and extensively
misconstrued alliance between Japan and Eng
land, the latter is under no obligations % take
up arms in behalf of her Oriental associate. IN
less the latter finds herself confronted by two
hostile powers The other point 20 which L
would call attention is the fact that far 100
much importance has been accorded in this
country to the professions OF Russia's friend
ship for the United States 4 widespread IN
preston seems to prevail this side of the