New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
EAST ASIAN ASPECTS.


Various views are to be taken of the compli-
cations in Eastern Asia, in which four Nations
are directly and half a dozen others are indi-
recty concerned. Each of these will be cor
rect, far as it goes, though, taken without due
regard for the others, it may be misleading.
From one point of view, there is cause for much
sympathy with Russia. She has built at great
cost railroad across the Asian continent and
she must have an ice-free terminal for it on
the Pacific. She must also have control of the
entire line and of the territory through which il
runs. Therefore, she must have Manchuria.
| To the proMuscovite mind that argument seems
conclusive But when Canada had built her
| transcontinental railroad, suppose she had dis
| covered that she must have an ice-free terminal
on the Atlantic, and must control the country
| through which access was TO be gained thereto,
and 50 had insisted upon taking Portland, to-
gether with the States OF Maine, New Hamp-
shire and Vermont. Would her right TO do so
have seemed perfect and convincing to those
Americans who are now inclined to champion
Russia's seizure OF Manchuria?
II is also argued that Russia is entitled to
COrea on a ground identical with one of those
on which we sought the annexation of Florida
namely, that her coast line from Port Arthur
10 Vladivostok shall be unbrolen and her com
merce through the Corean Strait shall not be
menaced by alien control of both shores There
is n marked geographical likeness between the
two cases. and it is quite true that one of our
reasons for acquiring Florida was to complete
the integrity of our coast line and to protect
our commerce between New-Orleans and New
York. But that it will be observed, was not
until long after New Orleans and Louisiana
had become indsputably ours by purchase To
apply the same argument in behalf of Russias
olai would 70 6u1if
the validity of Russias title to the Liao-Tung
Peninsula and, indeed, to all of Manchuria an
admission which is not TO be made. Without
that admission the argument falls to the ground
There is, again, much talk of RusSia'S COM
mercial interests in those countries and the
practical proximity with them into which she
has been brought by the Siberian railroad.
Nevertheless, she is not and can never be any-
thing like as close to them as Japan is Indeed
she is not as close TO them as is the United
States; for steamships cross the Pacific from
the United States TO China and COrea in less
time than it takes railroad trains to run from
ST. Petersburg TO Dalny. AS for volume and
value of commerce. we have already pointed
out that the United States sells more to Man
churia alone than Russia does to all of China,
while Japan's trade with AIanchuria is still
larger than ours and larger than that OF any
other nation. But, notwithstanding this great
superiority OF American and Japanese COM
mercial interests over those of Russia, no
American or japanese ever dreams of demand
ing exclusive privileges or of shutting out Rus
STA or any other nation from equal rights, while
the chief aim of Russian policy seems 10 be
arbitrarily 10 discriminate against and exclude
American and japanese trade for the benefit of
the inferior trade of Russia. In other words
America and Japan are contending for the omen
door for all Corners while Russia seeks to close
the door against all but herself
Nor is IL convincing TO argue that Russia will
soon have as great trade with China as those
other powers have. In the first place if She
ever has it, she ought TO get il as these others
have got it-in fair competition through the
open door. In the second place. however. there
is no prospect Of her getting it. because. with
her low type Of industry and civilization she
does not produce the things which China needs
She might supply wheat and petroleum. il IS
true She has not been able TO produce good
enough cotton cloth TO meet the Chinese de-
mand. As for machiLef.: and other manufact-
ured goods. which are Cnina's chief need Rus
STA is not able TO supply her own demand. hut
has 10 purchase such things from America.
How then can she hope 10 supplant America