The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-25
War Between Russia and
Japan Seems Certain.
CHINA is DESPAIRING
She Believes That She Will be Crushed
Beneath the Upper and Neither
MiIlstones. For Her "Uphar-
sin" Appears Written on
the Heavens.
(By the Associater Press.)

Pekin, Dee. 23.-That there is only a
| 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 adj
| vocated war, if necessary, to secure the
evacuation of Manchuria.
The optimistic feelings in some quar-
te1s concerning war between Japan and
| Russia are not shared by. the other Dip
/ lomats at Pekin, whose knowledge of the
present situation Of affairs entities their
opinion TO the highest consideration. 1t
! is positively known that the Japanese
government has drawn the line for set
tlement, beyond which it will not make
any material concessions, and that she is
determined to fight before yielding what
she considers to be her vital interests.
1t is believed that unless Russia comedies
| important points another exchange of
notes will precipitate matters.
1t is also believed that Japan will refuse
any arrangement holding in allegiance the
question of the evacuation of Manchuria,
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
violation of expressed pledges given to
Japan and China.
Minister Uchtdl is reported to have said
J 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 in the
Far East that war would mean an easy
lictory for Russia and the challenging
one of the Russian officials and neWspa-
rs.
The intelligent Chinese officials await
developments with the deepest anxiety.
they foresee the many perils menacing
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 49,
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 he 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 i'm
proring 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 Ii
Hung Chang-all are venerable conserva
tives like Prince Ching.
WI Ting Fang, the well known ex-min-