Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-21

Photo by Clnedinst. Copyrighted 1904.
littoral as will secure her against aggres-
sion in the future
What do you mean by the North Asian
littoral?' l asked.
II mean the territories of Northeastern
Asia, and more especially those which Dor
der its sea coast below Siberia; namely
Korea and Manchuria.
But how about China, your excellency?
Some people speak of the war as one for
the control of China. Is Japan ambitious
to control China?"
Distinctly and emphatically nor re-
piled Minister Takahra. 'Japans attitude
upon that subject was fully defined in the
negotiations which preceded this war. In
those negotiations she insisted upon
mutual engagement between herself and
Russia to respect the independence and
territorial integrity of the Chinese and
engagement to maintain the principle of
equal opportunity for the commerce and
industry of all nations in those countries"
The Yellow Peril
''Wil there ever be an alliance Of Japan
and China against the world?'
NO" replied the minister from Japan.
at don't believe that any sane political
thinker who understands the actual con-
ditions of the two nations can honestly
suggest such possibility. The suggestion
is either founded on gross ignorance, or it
is based upon a malicious desire to injure
Japan in the eyes of the world An alliance
between two powers must necessarily be
based upon mutual advantage, and where
could Japan gain strength by an alliance
offensive and defensive with China? 1t is
an established principle of modern political
science that the power which is to hold any
weight in the world must be able not only
to defend itself from outside nations, but
also to control and organize its people at
home 1t must keep order, put down re-
bellions and be able to call out its subjects
at any time to it's support in all matters of
national defense. Every one knows that
China is not in this condition; and while
we of Japan admire the Chinese people for
their scholarship, commercial integrity and
other high qualities, we realize that they
are not a military power, and we question
whether they will be so In the ages to
come This being the case, there is no rear
Of any such aggressive alliance as you sug-
eest and hence no yellow peril as such
a possible alliance has been called
An Independent China.
what Japan would like to see as to
China" continued the minister, rs that
she should follow in her footsteps in util-
izing such elements of the western civilf-
zation as are suited to her needs. This
would lead to the development of her
great resources in industry, commerce
and trade, and in the development Japan
only wishes to share equally with the other
powers. What we need most is that the
other nations should take the same position
toward China that the United States has so
ably maintained for the past few years.
THAT. more than anything else. would
help to preserve peace In the Far East"
'Then you think that China should hold
its present Independent position upon the
map of the world?'
al do" replied the japanese minister.
From our standpoint the preservation OF
Chinese independence. or what has been
,oI od mi a
the Chinese empire is most desirable.
That is one of the objects for which ia
pan is contending. divided China means
peril to Japan, and I sincerely believe
that it would be of no lasting advantage
to any western nation. On the other hand,
an independent China, with her territorial
integrity unimpaired, must. as her enor-
nous resources are more and more de-
veIoped, prove fruitful field to the COM
merce and industry of all nations"
The Position of Korea.
How about Korea?" I asked.
speaking generally" replied the Jap
anese minister, Il may say that we hope
the same good for Korea. with the intro
duction of western methods and civilizing
influences and the peaceful development
of its resources. At the same time the
world recognizes the fact that the near
neighborhood of Korea to Japan and the
strategic Importance of Korean territory,
so far as regards the maintenance of the
security OF the Japanese empire, natural
1y give Japan what was called in the ante
bellum negotiations a 'preponderating in
terest in Korea. In saying this / do not
mean that Japan has any designs upon
the Independence and territorial fnteg-
rity of Korea, nor any purpose of exclud-
ing from Korea the Industries or COM
merces of other nations nor hampering
foreign enterprise In any way. I mean
that Japan cannot. with due regard to