The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-02-16
DEEP AslATlC POLICY.

| Nations frequently look one way and
row another. This is strikingly eX-
hibited in the present war in Asia.
The diplomatic policy of Great Britain
is very deep and far reaching. With
the United States and other advanced
nations Great Britain favors the in
tegrity of China and the open door
in Manchuria. But it's main objective
point is the maintenance Of its Indian
Empire, which has been threatened by
Russia. Afghanistan Is the central
point of Muscovite and British opera
lions that bear directly upon this
question.
After Russia had virtually nullified
| the material advantages of the Japan
csc victory over China, and had sown
the seed that Is now bearing it's fruit.
| Great Britain made a treaty with ia
pan, obviously directed against Rus
sian aggression in Manchuria, with an
eye to ultimate designs upon Korea.
That treaty, however threw the onus
of the initiative upon Japan, and de-
manded no material aid from Great
Britain, unless Russia should form an
alliance. in case of war, that rendered
it essential that the fighting power Of
Japan should be augmented. This
| treaty was followed by the recently
ratified treaties between China and the
Japan, which concentrate the policy of
| the Western Powers upon the open
door" and, in connection with other
treaties, and especially the Favored
nation" clause, throw the influence Of
modern civilization against Russian
I Expansion and monopoly.
The beginning of the end of this
latest chapter in the history of world
movements appears to be in sight.
Doubtless there is a perfect under
standing, underlying published treaty
obligations, between the British and
the Japanese governments, while the
moral power of Uncle Sam, with which
his material interests correspond, is
necessarily ranged on the side of COM
mercial freedom and enlightenment in
Asiatic territory-unquestion rep
resented in the present conflict by the
japanese Empire. The chief element
of Importance, however, in the pres
ent aspect of the international game of
chess is the success, temporary or per-
unlikely that the immediate victories
of Japan, which were anticipated In the
columns OF the Advertiser, will settle
the final issue of the war, although
they have a strong tendency in that
direction. But there can be no doubt
that the attentic' \of the world is now
converged on the military and naval
operations in the extreme East or the
extreme West, as Korea and Manchu
ria may be considered. The Macedo-
Man strain is at least checked, and
Turkey remains the buffer state in
Europe. The situation in Afghanistan
an opportunity in Thibet. Russia, af-
fected by internal troubles, far more
momentous than the telegraph has
been permitted to describe. is COM
PEELED, far from her base and with her
Siberian railroad already cut, to face
the only organized Asatic nation that
has been incorporated into American
and European progress. The signs are
ominous for Russia, and 1t looks as If
American and British ideas. virtually
represented by Japan, would prevail.
All the powers will proclaim neutrality,
but general sympathy is against the
Muscovite and it will not be turned by
any appeal to the false sentimentality
of the past.
The last move by Great Britain on
the international chess board, in its
game with the Northern Bear, may
possibly not be checkmate, but II Is
dangerously near to that conclusion.