Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-08
THE POINT OF CONTENTION

Notwithstanding the fact that the
far eastern situation has been discuss
ed in the press for years, and that the
great antagonists themselves have, for
months, rivaled champion pugilists In
talking at one another, very often peo.
pie ask. what Is the trouble between
tho Russians and the Japanese7
Well, the main point IL Corea. Both
countries want the control OF that PEN
insua, and both consider such control
Of vital Importance. A Russian Corea
would It Is thought. practically block
japan from entrance to China, and II
Japan had no outlet directly west she
would starye. while Japanese Corea
would menace the safety Of Port Ar
thur and Manchuria, and would give
10 the Japs fine and valuable port
and coast. Corea is the Ireland Of
Japan. prospectlvely at least, She must
have Corea keep It independent or fall
back into the obscurity out OF which
she leaped to such brilliant destiny a
generation ago, That is the point Of
contest. But 1t seems TO be further mar
rowed down to this. Japan demands
that Russia sign a treaty acknowledge
Ing TIM integrity and independence OF
both China and Corea, and Japan's in.
terests In the latter country; to which
demand Russia replies that Japan has
no interest In those countries except
such as are common to all the powers,
wherefore a special treaty with Japan
on that matter Is out OF the question.
When Japan In 1885, was forced back
from the AsIatic mainland, her officers
said I'VE will return. when We are
ready Since then the Japanese have
spent their time WE'LL They are prob
ably as well prepared for the struggle
that will eventually make the nation.
or undo II. as they ever will be, Jap
anese diplomacy forced Russia to name
a date for the evacuation Of Manchu.
ria. When the Russian government
broke lta word, the time had como for
action The negotiations then were
carried on In secret, but enough has be-
come known OF the points Of contention
to warrant the conclusion that Russia
must back down, or fight non or later
ON. In the view OF the japanese the
alternative r. this Japan may so val
iantly 20 war, as the japanese officer In
China marched to death under "A mined
gate, or she may let Russia fool her
with another treaty neutallslng Corea.
and wait few years 20 see II torn W
and thrown In her face. like that Tor
the evacuation OF ManChuria, She can,
II need be-, sell her nationality, like the
Beers Tor a price Of blood that will
staggtr humanity" or she can suuen-
der II Tor nothing by slow degrees az
it suits the convenience OF Russia TO
take ID That being the supposed alter
native Jlpan's course Qi action Is UNI
alteuhly given
Tho country is about Ia Wen prepared
as % can be. n the opinion of experts
the japanese feet can have mo- augmen.
tauoO m thc immediate future except
by he purchase Of vessels built on
building for small nations witch are
willing 90 seil while tho RUSSIAN no.
Inducements oo the way viii noe throw
tho balance u Russlas favor thcy
mrau mero weight ot metal 10 contend
wih AS Coz tbe Japanese army d can,
u0t he n0raAsad without maklng hor
WlI.ka Intentions Too plain 10 her a.
,erHN rOoan.eUysho must uoW b. IA
Ia.lv Hs sao on be Within ,he next
Iau 0. tlne iat f ueaor chem IA
uut Of the 4gea,un ihe arH bloR c,u
D.I ba HIIos Goo flon io sult japan