The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-24
War Between Russia and
Japan Seems Certain.
CHINA IS DESPAIRING
She Believes That She Will be Crushed
Beneath the Upper and Neither
MiIIStones. For Her ''Uphar-
sin" Appears Written on
the Heavens.
(By the Associater Press.)


Pekin, Dec 23.-That there is only
faint prospect that war between Japan
and Russia can be averted, is said to be
the opinion Of the two members of the
diplomatic corps at the Chinese capital,
whose opinions regarding the present crit
| ical condition Of affairs in the Far East
are probably most valuable. namely, Jap
anese Minister Uchida and Sir Ernest
Mason Satow. Their views, in fact, are
no secret
| Minister Satow was connected with the
British diplomatic service in Japan for a
quarter of a century He is one OF the
greatest living authorities on Japanese
history and literature, and is in constant
! communication with the foremost states
men Of japan. He is quoted as saying
that any one who imagines that Japan will
not fight for what she conceives to be her
greatest interest does not know the Jap
anese people.
Minister Uchida is an adherent of the
young Japan party and has always ad-
vocated war, if necessary, to secure the
evacuation of Manchuria.
The optimistic feelings in some quar-
/ lGlS cOICeIulUB NdI DGbNtBl JdpuU anu
Russia are not shared by the other dip
lomats at Pekir, whose knowledge of the
present situation of affairs, entities the
opinion to the highest consideration.
is positively known that the Japanes
government has drawn the line for a 81
tlement, beyond which it will not max
any material concessions, and that she
determined to fight before yielding wha
| cl,a IN ho bor fol inf
1t is believed that unless Russia comedies
important points another exchange of
notes will precipitate matters
| It is also believed that Japan will refuse
any arrangement holding in allegiance the
question of the evacuation of Manchura,
which was one of the terms of the pro-
posed arrangement recently announced
from st. Petersburg and which, it is now
supposed, was intended by the Russian
government as "feeler." This would be
a violation of expressed pledges given to
Japan and China.
Minister Uchidi is reported to have said
he would be obliged to resign his post in
the event of such an agreement. The most
dangerous factors in the situation are the
confidence OF the Russian officials "a the
Far East that war would mean an easy
victory for Russia and the challenging
tone of the Russian officials and newspa-
pers.
The intelligent Chinese officials await
developments with the deepest anxiety.
they foresee the many perils menacng
China in the event of war and the posi-
bilities that partition of the empire may
result from Chinas inability to maintain
the neutrality OF her harbors and sub
jects
The younger officials and the newspa-
pers discuss the possibilities of an alli-
ance between China and Japan but the
only available Chinese troops are the To-
600 japanese trained men of Yuan-Shi-Kai
(who was recently appointed commander
Of the imperial army and navy) who
might fight under foreign leaders, but
whose present officers are incompetent
and of doubtful courage
Sir Robert Hart, director of the Chinese
imperial maritimed customs, said today
that ne feared China would be the chief
sufferer should war occur, for she might
be ground between the two millstones.
The decadence of the Chinese govern
ment has never been more completely dis.
played than in these times when her min
listers go from legation to legation inn
ploring other governments to help China,
without any thought OF China's helping
herself. There is absolutely no strong
man among the ruling ministers-no
Prince Chung, Marquis Tseng, no III
Hung Chang-all are venerable conserya.
tives like Prince Ching.
Wu Ting Fang the well known ex-rniIl-
lister to the United States. tells his Off
cial friends that he despairs of chinas
future
Il see no hope" he says, 'fcr China
The partition OF the empire sooner CT
later is inevitable"
London. Dee. 20 dispatch to the Reat-
er Telegram Company from Toxic says;
"Inces5ant activity prevails at mili-
tary headquarters. The transport ard
other arrangements are complete. The
government s calmly awaiting the Rus.
sian reply, which, it is hoped, will be
forthcoming without delay.
Press dispatches from Corea report
continued disturbances at Mok-Pho ara
the outbreak Of Tong -Hak insurrectfcI
in Chol-La-To province The Tong Hak-
are party Of malcontents whose activity
was the immediate cause Of the war BE-
tween China and Japan. These reports
create uneasiness.