Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-05
ENGLAND AND COREA
Great Britain Must Help
Thwart Russia's Plan.
MUSCOVITE CUNNING
JAPAN STANDING FOR THE
RIGHTS OF THE WORLD.
Asiatic Aggression Of the Gear
Threatens Present and Future
Markets Of the United States.

Letter in the Pail Mall Gazette.
A sudden appeal to ones more selfish in
terests is usually sufficient to metamor-
phose ones Indifference toward any sub
ject whatever into an attitude of genuine
interest. 1t has commonly required vfo-
lent appeal of this sort to rouse Great
Britain to a display of energy in foreign
affairs. With a people possessing so feeble
grasp of distant politics and a press
largely rejecting the comatose parochial-
ism Of it's readers, it is little wonder that
imperial interests so often go to the WALL
The question, however, of Corea, whose
exact location will be puzzle to a vast
number of intelligent British electors, has
SO important a bearing upon the interests
OF this country in the future as to deserve
few moments consideration, even in the
midst of such absorbing questions as Dor
ough councils, passive resistance and tariff
recriminations.
At the present moment the far eastern
question divides itself into the two interre-
lated parts-the question of Manchuria and
that of Corea. The value of the former
Is comparatively commercial; latter wholly
strategic. Thus what we stand to lose in
Manchuria either by the inertia Of the ma
large volume Of trading interests. whose
surrender will, Of course, be the precursor
of further commercial sacrifices to the Mus
covite Moloch later on.
Corea's Strategic Value.
The question of Corea's political future,
on the other hand. is weighted by 10 COM
mercial considerations Of any magnitude.
1t is entirely one for the military and naval
strategist, a fact which brings US into direct
political fellowship with Japan and the
United States of America. To put 1t plain
ly. our united interests and welfare in the
far east and the Pacific must stand or fall
with the integrity Of Corea.
Russia's object in her designs upon Corea
Is burdened by no commercial considera-
lions: few small concessions extorted by
her diplomats are the limit Of her trade in
the country. Her ambitions in this direc-
ton are based upon very Ineligible and
practical policy, and, despite her menda-
cious assurances to the contrary, she is
setting herself with systematic elaboration
TO overcome the serious difficulties which
stand in the way of it's absorption. She
looks upon Corea as the natural consumma-
ton, the rounding of of her Asatic ag-
gresslons. on precisely the same principle
watch would demand the key as we'll, on
the plea that 1t was indispensable to his
first acquisition. And it Is plea that has
always had great weight with altruistic
British statesmen. But. above all, Russia
is anxious to connect Vladvostock and Port
Arthur by continuous Russian coast line.
and to create a Muscovite Gibraltar out of
that important waterway, the Straits of
Corea. This Is a program which threatens
not only the future existence of japan but
the last hope Of Chinese integrity and the
balance Of power in the Pacific.
A Russian Ruse.
Now. this object is traceable in her ao-
tons as early as the commencement OF the
Cos. At that time Russian warship, after
taking in stores at Shanghai, disappeared In
an unknown direction, managing in a fog to
elude the curiosity of couple Of British
frigates who had followed her. For some
weeks her pursuers cruised about those seas
intent on ascertaining what the Muscovtte
was up to, when, on the point Of abandon
ing their quest. they ran the Russians to
earth in the penetralia of Tsusima Island,
in the middle of the Corean Straits Here
in one of those deep and wooded waterways,
they had moored their vessel, landed. erect
ed hospital buildings on the pretense of
scurvy, and hoisted the Russian flag, In
fact our sailors were just in time to nip in
the bud the typical inception of Russian
occupation. There is no doubt that but for
the British navy this strategcally import
ant island would have been lost to Japan
Whatever shadow Of reason there may
be for Russia's belief that she will not
meet with serious opposition in Manchuria,