The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-02-23
WHAT THE WORLD MAY EXPECT IF JAPAN
IS FINALLY VICTORIOUS OVER RUSSIA

/ China fail to see the reasons The position
of state in the society Of nations is the
position which it has the power--aetual
and potential--to make good. Japan has
mastered the arts of war and conquered
her place. China must now do likewise.
and Japan will be her instructor. For o
generation to come, while the two are
keeping Russia ut bay, Japan win be- en-.
joying the very profitable office of intro.
ducing China to modern ways. When this
education is complete China can protect
herself and shield Japan also. For, prop
erly trained and properly led, Chinese
troops are as good as amy. Il there really
yellow perilG Will not this depend upon
the expansive power of starvation or of
religious fanaticism, if either happens to
exists
There remains the question of Koreo. It
is over Korea that this war is really
fought. Manchuria is the Russian step
ping stone to China on the one hand, to
Korea on the other. For 10 years and
more Russian money and Russian intrgles
in Korea have menaced Japan. For Korea
in the hands Of a strong naval power
commands Japan. Thus Japan's argument
for possession, the argument of self-de-
Tense, is strong. And yet Japan stands for
Korean integrity and independence. She
and Russia have mutually agreed to this
by treaty, treaty now abrogated by war
Shall victorious Japan become a contin-
entail power by annexation of Korea, OF
shall she continue to maintain her near
est neighbor as an independent state Ia
fall some time, perhaps, into China's
hands9 This is really the hardest ques
ton which victory will bring. Japan is
| an island power, a maritime power. Her
possession of Korea might be weakness
or source Of strength. China and Japan
fought over Korea nine years ago and may
again. There is risk, but there is also
profit. The Korean coast supplements
Japan in trade and naval control. | think
it will be temptation which Japan will
find it hard to resist,
The picture which I have drawn is OF
great maritime state, manufacturing
state, Japan, the dominant power in the
East, unassailable; of China awakened
also now become a military factor, quite
| able to keep the land grabbers at bay, ia
terminate the German lease at Kiao Chau
to assert her dignity and sovereignty as be
comes that ancient home Of civilization; oil
Russia bottled up but biding her time
All ports are opentto the worlds trade
along the whole Asiatic littoral. Com
merce thrives and of it we have our share
China and Japan in alliance command the
| East.
| There is one blot in the picture. For {
century Russia, like an overgrown boy
bursting his jacket at every seam, ha
sought an outlet, now here, now there, t
the unfrozen sea. Her ambition is legiti
mate, but her methods are suspicious, AM
other nations fear her,, She was baked a
Constantinople in 1854 and 1873. We as
sumo that she is baked at Port Arthur il
1904. The third outlet to the sea, vi
Persia. is the line Of least resistance, an
that she win perforce try, with the NOV
via Herat, Candahar and Quetta upon In
dia to feint with.
The world has no love for the Russian
brand Of civilization. But until her Ie
| gitimate demand for an outlet to the SCI
is realized there will always be an Easterl
question.
dg-i9e,re S. 1.,s,oE..y