The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-03
RUSSIA PLAYING THE GAME.
uyR yEiD MOST IMPORTANT ~
fUIN.i or THE BALKANS.
r.r,porari, Checked In Manrhuria h, our
VIGOROUS Protest. she May Move Now
Tousrd . settlement Of the Turk
,.b Pro.,.cii--Thc SaiOnica Outrage.
.,,r.s. cas,c Drspneh n Tns sus

toward Q settlement ri the Turk
,.b Proj.cn,--Thc SaiOnica Out Sc.
,S5,r,l' rl,'c D-spneh I, TIE Sun.
1oSpoY. May THE events Of the week
have deNlonsi rated curiously the intimate
connection between the widely separated
nrovinces Of ManchlIria and Macedonia
/, ha. now been abundantly explained
,bv clever Russian diplomacy is striving
not to settle the Balkan question: but to
delay for n little longer its conclusion.
Itis clear also that her hopes Of accomplish
inc oThlud her designs in the Far East
have been frustrated for the present. a
decisive check having been administered
much to her chagrin. not by European
hyal hut by the United States.
Nobody in Europe has been deceived by
Russias transparent maneuvre in this
matter There cannot be the slightest
doubt that her now repudiated demands
on China would have been forced through
n they had not encountered an effective
outside protest. Japan would have in
terferad il she had not been restrained by
her British partner, who pointed out to her
that the American interests were most
important from commercial point OF view.
1t was not. however. under any arrange
nent with Great Britain that Secretary of
State Hay took his action. 1t is possible
that II he had failed to protest against
Russia's action in Manchuria, Great Britain
or Japan would have done 30 rather than
permit he Russian designs to be so easily
contaminated.
1t became apparent that some sort of an
understanding between Russia and Ger
many existed by which, II the former gained
her object in the northern part of China,
Germany would have further undermined
the integrity of the Chinese Empire at
another point
II is apparently regarded as ample just-
fcation for breaking diplomatic pledge
if the offender can point to another nation
which has successfully committed the same
crime. Secretary Hays prompt objection
to this sort of argument has in fact stopped
for the time being the serious movement
toward the partition OF China.
There is no assurance, unhappily, that
the Russian demands have been abandoned.
No Power knows SO well how to bide her
time That keen observer, the Pekin
correspondent OF the london Times, init
mates that Russia will finally attain every
one OF the advantages named in the de-
iIhids oilG hdS hoW IopuOl0Vu
Much will depend upon how seriously
Russia will regard the American and other
opposition to her plans in the Far East
II she considers it necessary to allow the
situation to remain as 1t is for consider
able length of time, then it is not impossible
that the Russian policy In the Balkans and
toward Turkey will undergo a radical
change
She dares not delay indie flnitely solution
of the crisis in the Near East. Russia and
Germany may proceed on a mutual agree
ment in regard to China. but they cannot
do so in Turkey and the Balkans. There
are now foreshadowed certain Pan-German
ambitions which the death Of the Austrian
Emperor would speedily bring into the
arena of practical politics. Such q con-
tingcncy is by no mea MS go remote as TO be
an unmportant factor in the European
situation
The Turk cannot be driven out Of Europe
in day. as Russia as already learned to
her cost. She would be more hampered
now by outside interference than might b.
the case later on. If. therefore. she must
hold her hands in the Far East, she must
follow the situation in the Balkans and
hast en- he development of her plans there.
There has been no doubt, however, until
the present momen mt. that Russia has sin !
cerey endeavored to hold the Macedonian !
troubles in check. The outrage at Salonica
in he past few days were entirely in ac-
cnrdance with the plan which the leaders |
of tho revolutionary committee freely de- |
csred o me last week in Sofia.
They are resorting to the Anarchist !
method. because they honestly believe |
that in no other way can they arouse Euro
pean sympathy and force foreign inter- |
,ention, Their foolhardy ignorance is
not. perhaps, to be wondered at, inasmuch' |
as history, according to their understand !
ing Of it. confirms their view. They will, |
Of course. find themselves terribly mis-
taken
The Turkish authorities have thus far
shown remarkable self-restraint in the I
face Of this policy of dynamite and mean
ingess outrage. 1t would be impossible
in any community to avoid rcprisals X
violence Of this nature were continued
TIE innocent will probably snffer with
the guilty. apd appalling news may. at
INV hour come from Macedonia.
But the outside world cannot now mis-
place the responsibility, and, threatening
as the situation is. there is no reason. as
yc'. to fear that the trouble will spread
oyer local boundaries so long as the Russian
attitude remains unchanged. H. r. c.