Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-09
JAPAN WANTS C0REA
Marquis Ito the Only Barrier
Against War.
SITUATION Is CRITICAL
WHERE is BALFOURP NOW A
LEADING QUESTION.
Chamberlain Has Neither Retaliated
Nor Reciprocated-Letter From
London.


LONDON. October %, 1908.
Desnite smooth official statements the
situation in the far east is still extremely
| critical. At such time the stock exchange
is an excellent barometer, and the steady
fan IN Russian and Japanese stocks is
ANYTHING but reassuring. The latest mails
| h,inging the Japanese papers show a coun-
| try practically unanimous in clamoring 1or
war. and cables state that this feeling has
not abated in the least.
| The only barrier between Japan ana war
| is the Marquis Ito and his colleagues anu
the weight of public opinion may prlhs
down that barrier at any moment. Inc
Japanese show a colossal ignorance OF the
real strength of his opponent. He Is apt 10
| look upon Russia as a second emma
No mistake could be greater and nothing
| mora dangerous This ignorance is not
| shared by the Japanese government, put at
| times governments are helpless. Mean a
| while St. Petersburg says notnlhs.. ~
| Muscoyite is easily the most expert iahu
! grabber of modern times, but he does not
| believe in fighting unless forced TO 90 So
| it is too expensive. .
| If there be war, and even II Japan were
| successful on the sea, 1t would be quite I'M
| POSSIBLE for her to drive Russia out OF Man
| churia She has never forgiven the acti ii
of Russia in compelling her 10 Ienn9u!sh
|
| stroyed the Russian feet she would not IN
| the opinion of military authorities, De aoie
| to retake Port Arthur
| What Japan wants is Corea, and If any
| ARRANGEMENT be made 1t must be on the
! basis of recognizing that Korea Is Wlthn
| her sphere of influence. Neither power mas
any strong interest in forcing conHict,
| but in Japan the opinion is growing tnat
| the longer it Is postponed the worse 1t Will
| be for her. -
| Situation Critical.
This is one of the reasons that make for
war. unless Russia is prepared to meet the
| Japanese views in regard to Corea. The sit
! uat ton Is indeed critical but it is so much
| the interest of both powers to come to
| peaceable settlement that war may be
! averted. There is, however, no certainty
| on the matter, and people who nave some
| knowledge of affairs In the far east believe
| that conflict is inevitable.
| In view of the imminence of a conflict the
question of coal supply must be seriously
| agitating the minds of admirals and fleet
engineers either side. The South Wales
coal field is, of course, the source from
| which the war navies of the world derive
| their best steam coal, and of this priceless
commodity in war times the Russians are
understood to have enormous quantities
stored at Port Arthur.
| If naval operations extend over any
| length of time, however, the Cardiff coal IN
| the Port Arthur sheds will be exhausted
| and then Russian officers must seek else
where for the wherewithal to fill their
! bunkers.
The japanese supply, on which in peace
time the Russian Pacific squadron relies to
a certain extent, will be cut off. So con-
| ceivably, will be all supplies from England
| and Australia. There remains only such
| coal as may be obtained from Chinese
| sources. which is markedly inferior to the
| Cardiff variety and the product Of the
| Hon-Gay mines in Tonkn. These mines are
| said to yield steam coal of excellent quality
| Of
! coal found their way to Hong Kong last
year shows that 1T is not lightly esteemed
| for naval purposes.
What Has Become Of Balfour.
In the political clubs the question is being
asked what has become of Mr.. Balfour?
Having given his party at Sheffield "a lead"
he seems to have done nothing since but
| improve his golf by a stroke a hole His
own partners have not altogether followed
suit for this is a ministry with many
voices, and it is difficult to quite make out
whose game is being played, and while
| Earl Percy pledges all his colleagues to
] support Mr.. Chamberlain. the new colonial
I secretary had to repudiate him in order to
| retain his seat and his office.
| But Mr.. Balfour probably finds himself
| in a cleft stick. People have almost for
gotten his palliative policy" and there is
no vitality in the retaliatory plan. In con-
| sentative circles Mr. Chamberlain's scheme
! is discussed as If it were the official policy
and nowhere does one hear any distinctions
| drawn 10 show that, while preferential
! duties are either unSound unpopular re-
| taliatory duties are a counsel of fiscal per-
| fiction and likely to make popular cry.
Mr. Balfour can. therefore, hardly be anx-
ious to follow up his lead by another
| platform speech, for he will undoubtedly
| have to indorse half Mr. Chamberlain's
case in defending or commencing his own,
| and so show whose lead the protection
| lists are really following.
Wall Around Chamberlain.
So far Mr.. Chamberlain has neither re-
taliated nor reciprocated, but has erected a
wall around him to shelter himself from his
! opponents arguments. There is no means
| of compelling a man to answer arguments
| If he is not inclined to. and the prevailing
| idea among free traders here is that he will
rely on repeating his and trust to his
audiences not knowing or caring to know
| the other side.
| long. An imperialist free trader said to
me the other day: "All his speeches so far
show that he does not know the A. B. c.
Of economy, and doesn't even know enough
| to make the best case for himself.
After the Liverpool speech we shall know
whether he is aware of how little he
knows or whether he has merely lapsed
| into bluff. But, little as he knows lie
| ought to know that his case has been
shattered already, and unless he really
| makes a serious attempt to meet his OPP
| ponents they Will know That he Is merely
| appealing by ignorance to ignorance.
| Free traders may be unduiy optimistic,
but it is. nevertheless. a fact that they re-
gard Mr.. Chamberlain as having come to
! the end of his tether. And the Alaskan
| trouble has not helped the general move
ment toward imperial unity. In fact, every
| body is at skies and sevens over the won
derful fiscal question, and 1t is more than
probable that the country will be upset for
generations over it before it is settled.
Whistler's Etchings.
| An exhibition of Whistlers etchings has
/ just been opened at Bond street gallery
which is attracting much attention.
| In his lifetime Whistler fought with the
| critics. today he receives posthumous hon.
] age from them, and the prints that We're
once described as little jokes and as
lacking in culture are the JOY and envy
| of collectors
| 1t is said on behalf of the critics that