The Globe-republican., 1904-01-14
The Real StruuaIe,

The London correspondent Of the
New York Herald sends the following:
All the civilized world realizes that
underlying the diplomatic fencing
bout Is a far greater matter than the
mere safeguarding Of Russian inter.
ests in Corea or Of Japanese interests
in Manchuria, 1t Is the universal rec
ognition Of this fact that makes every
nation on earth follow the struggle
with breathless attention. All feel
instinctlvely that Japan is but the
supernumerary in the drama, All d.
vine that behind the scenes stands a
far greater actor, stands the real pro-
tagonlst, awaiting the right moment to
step into the center Of the stage.
No doubts exist as to the identity
Of that actor. It is England. The
real issue, In fact, is not shall Russia
or Japan dominate Corea, but this
one. Shall England or Russia rule
supreme In the far east?
Great Britain's policy Of diplomatic
opposition to Russian development
has failed, and the time has come,
apparently, when more energetic
means are to be tried.
This decision upon the part Of Eng.
land can cause no surprise to any one
who has watched the steady advance
Pacifcwards Of Russia and the extern
sion Of her influence In the far east,
Little more remains for her to ac'
compllsh before she can enter upon
the work Of realizing her ambition to
predominant In China-an ambition
which England also nourishes One
or the other must fail. There Is not
room for both.
Once that step Is successfully TAKEN
the absorption Of Corea within Rus
sia's sphere of control, and she has
won the game. Her position Is i'm
pregnable. Pekin is under her thumb
and the whole Of China lies at her
mercy.
What effective opposition could
England bring to bear against the
designs upon the Chinese empire of
a power firmly established in Corea,
controlling Manchpria, in possession
Of lines Of communication that drain
an immensely rich expanse Of terri
tory with unlimited resources to hand
in the shape Of hardy, frugal, war.
like population to aid with the pres
tige Of victory that Is an irresisti-
Bile moral force with all Asiatlcs.
England could do nothing. 1t Is
her realization Of the fact that makes
one fear for the maintenance Of peace.
The success Of Russia in the diplo-
matte negotiations now pending
means more than triumph over Japan.
It means irremediable defeat Of Brit
ish aspiration In the far east.
When this fact Is recognized 1t be.
comes easy to account for the provo
catlve tone Of the English press,
which Is In such curiously pronounced
contrast to the correct" attitude OF
the British government. 1t becomes
easy to explain the hints that Great
Britain cannot and will not allow her
ally, Japan, to be crushed.
Either the quarrel is Japan's or II
Is England's. II 1t Is Japan's and
she chooses to 60 to war to settle the
matter why should she not be
crushed" II Russia is more powerful?
The fact is, England has far more at
stake than Japan. Either the terri
torlal expansion Of Russia must be
arrested definitely or England's asplra.
tions after commercial supremacy In
the far east must remain an unfulflled
dream.
Under the guise Of a Risso.Jap-
anese dispute, In short, the lion and
the bear are preparing to grapple In
q life or death struggle, and 1t is the
dim perception Of this that forces the
world to follow the preliminary phases
d the duel with such passionate In
terest.
Say Japs VIII Sweep Seas.
Naval and military officers are leav.
ng the European capitals for the far
IA ~ IN aptf,toctfnx ~ - neuQf.l L.