The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-18
Japan and Russia Mark Time.

The latest news from the Far East is
reassuring in the sense that a collision
between the Japanese and the Russians
has not yet occurred, and that attempts
to reach an agreement are continued on
the part of Baron DE RosEN, Russian
Minister at Toxic, and Baron koMURA,
the Japanese Minister for Foreign AZ
fairs. There is some reason to doubt.
however, whether in this negotiation
Russia has any other purpose than delay,
for the minimum demands said to have
been formulated by Japan would be, on
the face Of it, unacceptable to the war
party at st. Petersburg.
That a crisis was believed to be at
hand, in which the vital interests of
Japan would be involved, is evident from
the fact that, on Tuesday, Oct. 10, all the
veteran statesmen Of the Island Empire
were summoned to confer with the Cabi-
net Ministers at Toxic. We learn by
telegram from Yokohama that their
deliberations confirmed the decision
reached on June 20 that Japan should
insist on the absolute independence and
territorial integrity Of Corea, and upon
China's retention Of sovereignty over
Manchuria, although Russia's treaty
rights in the Liaotung peninsula, and
along the line Of the Manchurian branch
Of the Siberian railway should be also
recognized.
This we understand to be the irreduci-
BILE minimum OF Japan's demands. 1t is
now even less acceptable to Russia than
it was on June 49, for, since then, COM
mercial treaty between China and Japan
has been signed, whereby the last-named
Power has gained the privilege of access
for trade purposes to Mukden, the his
torical capital of Manchuria, and to An
tung, port on the north bank of the
Yalu River, which forms the northwest
boundary between Manchuria and Corea.
These are, 1t will be remembered, the two
additional treaty ports in Manchuria
thrown open by the treaty of commerce
between China and the United States.
Il Is obvious that as regards her demand
that the opening Of these new ports shall
DO real and not merely nominal, and as
regards her further demand that Russia
shall 80 far evacuate Manchuria as to
render the retention Of Chinese sover-
eighty over that region practicable,
Japan Is oontending for the very same
objects which our State Department has
kept steadily In view
It seems probable that, II the Mikado's
advisers, recognizing the narrow limits
Of their country's pecuniary resources,
and willing, therefore, to avoid a trial
Of strength at this time, had agreed to
acquiesce In Russia occupation of Man.
churia for an indefinite period, and in the
practical annulment OF China's conces-
sion OF two new treaty ports, Russia to
whom, also, the expediency Of deferring
. contest might commend itself, would
have consented to regard Corea as within
Japan's sphere Of influence exclusively.
By such a compromise, however, Japan
would have left Great Britain and the
United States In the lurch, and would no
longer have been able to count upon their
sympathy. As it Is, Japan has stood for
ward a. the champion Of their common
cause; she has risked the loss of Corea,
and oven the invasion OF her native soil,
In order TO force Russia to recognize the
interests OF all the maritime Powers
that have combined TO ask for an open
door in Manchuria. Under the circum-
stances, Americans, as well as English
men, would be guilty Of base ingratitude
II they failed TO wish the Japanese god
speed in their effort to force Russia to
keep its plighted word
Nothing seems more certain than that
the war party. which, since the retire
ment OF Mr. WITTE from the Ministry
If Finance, has become preponderant
at St. Petersburg, will never voluntarily
submit 10 the demand believed to have
been put forward as an irreducibIe min
lmum by the Mkado's counsellors Why,