The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07
KOREA THE REAL BONE
Of CONTENTION BETWEEN
RUSSIANS AND JAPANESE
Review of the Dispute That Is
Threatening the Peace of
the Far East.
JAPANS GREAT DESIRE
Wishes to Secure Absolute Control
of Korea for Alleged Sell
fish Reasons.
RUSSIA'S CRYING NEED
Hermit Kingdom Is Necessary to
Insure an Outlet from East
ern Siberia.

Correspondence Of the Indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Jan. 29.-What makes Japan
covet Korea's possession at the cost of war
that threatens the proud position she OBJ
tanned in the world by decades or arduous
work and persistent endeavor? Why does
Russia refuse to recognize Japan's suzer-
ainty in Korea? Public opinion in Europe
and America looks upon Korea as Japan's
natural and logical prey, but as matter
of fact Russia has better reasons for keep
ing Japan out of Korea than Japan has for
wishing to occupy the big island.
Having studied the situation on the spot
during repeated visits in Manchuria. Japan
and Korea in late years, my information
on the subject is from first hand.
Up to the time of the late Chinese-Japan-
csc war, neither of the powers cared
rap for Korea with it's six millions of in
habitants and territory half as large as
the German Empire. That it was under
Chinese suzerainty and country of ultra
ancient semi-culture, undeveloped lacking
in industry, enterprise and wealth, was all
we cared to know about the Land of the
Morning Calm. We knew, too, that Japan
was vastly interested in Korea and had sew
eral times made war upon her during the
did not know or did not care. that Japan
was working tooth and nail for the annex
alton, or virtual annexation. of Korea un-
der the powers very nose.
Let us now recall that Russia's more or
less amicable relations with China began
way back in the thirteenth century. When
the great Venetian, Marco Polo, traversed
the Chinese Empire from one end to the
l, ~ -
before open-mouthed Europe, thus
early had the Car of some of the Russias,
minister resident at the Chinese court
while Russian merchants traded freely with
their pig-taied colleagues. Relations be-
tween the two great empires continued six
hundred years and more, China remaining
on the defensive, Russia moving slowly but
surely along offensive lines.
THEIR POLICIES SIMILAR.
Even as Japan trying all the time
to force her dominion upon Korea, so Russia
extended her sphere of influence In Eastern
Asia by acquiring more and more terri
tory in the Siberian wilderness and other
parts. mostly at the expense of China.
In the CO.'S, again at the expense of China,
Japan moved her frontier posts to and
across the Amur. This is a giant water
way, navigable for many thousand miles
and one of the chief natural thoroughfares
of Eastern Siberia. Only one thing detracts
from its value-pack Ice chokes up it's
mouth during certain seasons of the year.
In the interest of her Hinterland, Russia
was. therefore. obliged to look for a har-
Dor in a warmer, that is, a more southernly
climate. Such a harbor the late Count Mu-
rawjew acquired from China by the aid
OF money and honeyed words, namely,
Vladivostok. and not Vladivostok only,
but the entire Manchurian Hinterland. That
Hinterland, at it's northern extremity al
most touches Korea. Here, then, is the
basis of conflict. Vladivostok has grown
into a mighty commercial center, thanks,
principally, TO the efforts of German trades
men and less to the riches and the
chances of success inherent in the locality.
When Russia wrested Eastern Siberia
from China, she laid it open at the same
time to the attacks of Japan, the material
and strategical strength of which adj
vancing steadily In view of this, Russia
announced the construction of the Trans
Siberian Railway.
The japanese, meanwhile, viewed the
growth of Russian power the Asiatic
continent with increasing alarm and con-
cluded to annex Korea, before the Bear
had the audacity to lay its paws upon the
island Result, the war of 1894; excuse.
Korea must be saved from Chinese degrad-
ing SuZerainty.
Japan entered upon this war fully pre-
pared and won, but in striving for prizes
she over-reached herself. She did not ask
for her legitimate prey, Korea, but, instead,
demanded the peninsula of Liao-Tung.
Liao-Tung fronts Korea in the north and
lies like wedge between that country and
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