The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-05
TIME TO CALL RUSSIA'S BLUFF.
EUROPE LOOKS no US FOR THE
FIRST MOVE.

By-Play Over klshincir Petition Watched
with Interest Weakness Of British
Foreign Policy Condemned at Home
Japan Held I'm Check with Difficulty.
Special Gable Despatch TO The SUN.
LONDON, July 4.-The moment Is ap-
preaching when some Power or combina-
ton Of Powers must call halt to Russian
aggression. The conviction ia rapidly grow
ing that nothing but the stern certainty OF
war will check the INSCRIPTIONS policy Of
Muscovite ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. In other
words, the Russian bluff must be called.
The question that has been most dis
cussed in the past few days is whether the
needlessly provocative course pursued by
Russian diplomacy against the United
States, Great Britain and Japan is a bluff
or yelled challenge which a domestically
distracted administration would like to sec
accepted. Some commentators confess
themselves to be 80 much puzzled that they
cannot conceive the motive Of the shrewd
diplomatsts-and the Russians have al
ways been past masters in this line-in
deliberately and unnecessarily forcing such
a triumvirate as America, Great Britain
and Japan into combination against them.
What European observers find hardest
to understand Ia the strange manner Of
Count Ca5sini, the Russian Ambassador
at Washington, in dealing with American
public opinion. That he should In the first
place have relied upon non-existent Ameri-
can ignorance may be accounted for as the
mistake of man who knows nothing Of his
audience. His ign ORANGE became mere stu-
pidity, however, when he relied upon III
quo lue as conciliatory argument and as
sumed that an official denial disposes Of a
statement. Count Cassinis reputation in
the diplomatic world is so good that Europe
il loath to believe that no has been guilty
OF a series of egregious blunders in the
present case How then can we account
for policy. which, in connection with
Russian perfidy in Manchuria and the
atrocities at KishinefY, has destroyed
American friendship Recklessness and
almost wanton offence seem to be charac-
teristics OF such dip lomacy. yet such quail
ties are the very opposite OF those which
have always marked Russian politics
--cynicism, boldness and INSCRIPTIONS
ness-but not ON the occasion of direct
provocation TO war.
1t is impossible to believe seriously that
Russia is prepared to push her plans in the
Far Fast against the armed opposition OF
tho three Powers mentioned. Her very
indifference to consequences in the recent
reckless declarations is part Of game Of
bluff, in the opinion of the best observers
on this side of the water. II il true that
the domestic condition OF Russia is des-
perete. She is trading on this also in giving
the impression that she would welcome
war as a relief from the internal crisis. It
is quite true that the Czar.is not the master
OF his own dominions but it is also true
that Russia cannot be launched into a war
OF conquest without his consent. It would
be necessary to repeat the tragedy at Bel
grade in ST. Petersburg before Russia could
enter upon the campaign which her present
policy threatens SO recklessly.
Russ las treaty-breaking designs in the
Far East will stop when some Power lays
the sword across the path-then, and not
till then. There is still strong confidence
in St Petersburg that no Power will dare
to take this decisive step, The Russian
Government expects to continue to hector
and menace with an impunity born of sue
cess until not only Manchuria. but Pekin
itself il gained.
There are indications that the time il
not far of when the Cars ministers will
be undeceived. Japan is already with diff
fculty held in check. There is no appetite
for war in this country, but already there
is strong evaporation over what is de-
nounced az the pusillanimity Of the British
Foreign Office. This is so extreme that
one of the most loyal of Conservative Jour
nails exclaims to-day: "Our Foreign Of
fee has, wherever Russia is concerned,
lost the confidence of the British people,
and, We had almost written, the respect of
Europe"
Comment like that in the house Of it's
friends is likely to spur the Government
to action similar to that described in last
nights despatch to The Sun giving the
terms of the reported Anglo-Japanese
ultimatum directed to China, but aimed at
Russia.
Meantime it is fully recognized in Europe
that the United States has II direct, une
quvocal right to checkmate Russia S game
in Manchuria. Some, indeed, argue that
the duty of initiative belongs more to
America than either to Great Britain or
Japan Hence it is that what is regarded
as mere by-play Of America in the matter
of the Jewish Kishineff petition to the Gar
is watched here with interest. There il
feeling, however, that the occasion is one
more fitting for the display of the direct.
straightforward methods of American d.
plomacy in dealing with I he issue involved