New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-08
War.

WAR.
FoInal declaration Of war between Russia
and Jspan has rot been announced at the
time when these lines are written. IL may De
before they are read. Whether il Is or not, we
ara connelled 10 assume that actual war be-
tUeen those two countries will be fact within
tbe next few hours The formal declaration is
not. indeed necessary. IL is the overt act that
counts and in the present circumstances ihe
severance Of diplomatic relations ana WIN
dravrsl Of ministers from the respective coun-
tries can scarcely he regarded otherwise uhah
as the prelude 10 immediate acts Of war. in
other and ordinary circumstances such sever
apce of relations might mean merely their sus-
ransion for \ lime or the continuance or nego-
tia4sons through some neutral channel In
this case even the most optimistic can
scarcely hone for such a sequel. lt has
for weeks past been too ominous!y plain that
the breaking off Of direct relations ana negous-
lions would be the signal FOR hosullues I'D iHe
field. As for the continuance OF negotiations
tb-ourh tho mediation OF some other power,
which some are now limiting might have been
possihle had not Japan recalled her minister
We can sac no hope Of that. A month ago sucn
mediation or reference Of the dispute to Inc
Hague was urged IN these columns. and Inc
T--ibr7pe-s suggestion was republished I'm Russia
md fhrOuEDDnI LlThAf. aAlA NcH AhANA ~ -
o.ber advocates % peace IN Great Britain and
elsewhere But the Russian government was
So far as could be perceived. entirely unwilling
n accent such a suggestion from any source.
while the seniofficial Russian press resented it
az little short Of offensive. With such an atu-
tude toward II weeks ago, there is no ground
for s-1pposinc the idea 20 be more fsvorably
considered al the present tiue.
We are therefore reluctantly compelled to re-
card war as practically begun. Much surprise
Is exrressed i'm Paris according 10 our special
cable Sispatcb. and much irritation. because or
what IS there regarded as Jspsn's discourteous
sud precipitate action I'm severing relations
without waiting for the Russian note, which
was actually on the way. The Russian govern
mont TOO levs stress upon that point fixing
unon Japan responsibility for whatever no"
occurs 1-pon the face Of the case. such action
might te regarded as manifesting an unreason-
able and irreconcilable spirit But IL must be
remembered that Russia had already taken
some weeks for the preparation Of that answer
70 Japan's last note. and il may well be asked
how much longer Japan could Justly be eA-
pected 10 wait especially Il her adversary was
improving the time Of delay by filling IL With
preparations for war. From the beginning Of
this unhappy controversy Japan has displayed
so admirable degree of patience and self-con-
troll that We cannot help giving much weight TO
her explanation OF her apparently hasty con-
duct and assuming that her action is Justinable
perhaps also on other grounds not yet made
known 10 the world.
In this war the interest OF the United states
is large and direct. II is 50 entirely apart from
the ominous possibility that the war may In
volve other powers The fact cannot be ignored
| ,bst the alliances Of Great Britain with Japan
srSz-N 1vNT
-vo powers in dangerous complications More
over. there are open threats that the uneasy
/ factions in the Balkan States will take adj
vantage Of this opportunity 10 stir up strife
I there in way they could scarcely do IL Russas
! attention were not engaged elsewhere gen.
| eral European war-which, however, IT would be
little short Of criminal 10 anticipate without abb
solute necessity-would. Of course, affect Amer
lea only less than one in which we were our
! selves involved But our commercial interests
! in the Far East alone are sufficient 10 cause
America TO regard this war as something
| touching il very closely. This country Is. Of
| course. in no sense responsible for the trouble.
Both parties 70 it profess 10 be our sincere
friends. and indeed 10 be pursuing their present
| courses for our good as well as for their own.
Certainly the United States has striven 20 cul-
tlrate sincere friendship with them both. We
status and privileges 70 be respected by both,
| as. Of course our neutral obligations viii be
respected and maintained by us. Our non
| contra band commerce with both Russia and
Iapan should therefore proceed as before, modi-
fed only by the changed capacities Of those
countries as purchasers Of our wares. IL IS
probable that there will be some considerable
increase OF exports from America TO them Of
supplies Of food. which may temporarily stimu-
late our markets. though il viii not he well 10
overestimate the value 10 US % such temporary
imitation of exports. On the other hand. II IS
quite likely that our trade with Manchuria and
Corea will be 10 some extent impaired owing
10 the difficulty OF getting even neutral goods
into countries which are the scenes Of war, not
10 mention the decrease OF purchasing power
which the ravages Of war viii infict upon
them II may be, then. that what we shall
gain IN sales in one direction viii be lost IN the
other, and the net effect upon us viii be I'M
perceptible. Even st. however, the war were TO
cause us great pecuniary gain, It would be
monstrous 10 exult in it on that account but
whatever it's profits 20 u.s. humanity would
compel us 10 hope. as all must hope. for its
| speedy ending in peace with justice.
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