Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-09
JUSTICE OF JApAN's ATTITUDE.
Russia at Fault in Korea and Man
.s,.+,,s, churia.
From the New York Tribune.

From the New YORK IriDuhe
There is ne occasion for Japan and Rus
STA, or for any one in their behalf. to play
the railing parts of Hildebrand and Hagen
in the last Nibelungen fight. Each may
try to fix upon the ether responsibility for
the war. Belligerents usually do so. Amer
lea and Spain O. in 1898; and each still
insists. and pre- :, win until the end of
time. that the other was the aggressor.
Nothing is to be gained by Russians saying
the Japanese are .impudent' and unable
to observe even the slightest decency," be-
cause it is not true. and If it were true it
would have little practical bearing. Such
things count for little after war has act
ually begun. All that is desirable on that
score is to understand Alright the points at
issue on which the two. powers were unable
to agree and that for the sake of histori-
cal accuracy rather than for any direct
bearing upon the conflict.
Let US take Russia's statement of those
points Russia, we are told was willing
to ccGce3o Japan's demands excepting in
four respects The first was Japans Ce-
mand that Russia should make a treaty
definitely guaranteeing the Chinese SOW.
erispty of Marlchuria. That Russia positive
Iy refused. Yet Russia in 1895 declared that
the retention OF even IA small part of Nam
churia by foreign power would iHferii
the Chinese capital and jecqpardiZe peace in
the orient. So in refusing the Japanese de-
mand Rusda refused-in the Japanese view
TO dissGaim intentions to menace Picking
and to disturb the peace of East Asia.
Moreover, the second point of disagreement
was Russia's demand that Japan should
guarantee the independence of Korea. That
is to say, Russia demanded Of Japan in no.
rea scnething which she was unwilling
Japan should demand of her In MancGluria-
The third point was RuSsia's demand that
che he. no n H.
ern Korea which might dominate the Strait
of Korea, and thus menace Russian COM
munication by sea between Port Arthur
and Yiadivostok We understand that
Japan was willing to recognize the freedom
and neutrality of the strait in time of
peace; as, of course, she must. seeing 1t Is
a part OF the high seas. But, apart from
that it is to be noted that the western
channel between the Japanese island of
Tsushima and Korea. is thirty or more
miles wide That is wide as La Pcrouse
strait; but is Russia ready to promise never
to fortify the southern end of Saghalien?
The Singapore strait Is much narrower.
but is Great Britain required to refrain
{, ON terrifying Singapore? Palk strait is
no wider. but the shores OF Ceyion and In
dia are not neutralized. The Strait of Or
muz Is little wider but Russia herself has
been planning to fortify Bander Abbas.
The Straitjof Babel Mandeb Is only half as
wide but Great Britain sits tight at
Perrin and, Alden. If Denmark is forbidden
TO fortify Copenhagen, Sweden Helsin-
boure. the world does not know it, though
The Sound is scarcely one-thrd as wide as
Korea strait Certainly England is not for
hidden to fortify Gibraltar. or Spain Ceuta,
upon strait only one-thrd wide as that
of Korea The shores of the Strait of Do
yer are not, ,neptralized. though that strait
is narrower than that of Korea. We can
not even recall that the United States has
been forbidden, to fortify the Florida keys.
which command the Florida straits. or the
Porto Rfcan side of the Mona passage.
bflp Russia ~ n create
neutral zone on the Korean side of the Yalu
river she. would not listen to Japan's sug-
gestion that there should be a similar neu-
trail zone yon hhe Manchurian side of the
same river. That again indicated, az did
the first and second points. Russ!a's UNIV IL
ingness to follow the rule of do ut des.'' or
Of ..etye and take" She demanded of
Japan in Korea more than she would grant
to Japan in Manchuria. She would no.
grant to Japan in Korea what she demand
ed for herself in Manchur.a. Obviously, in
such circumstances 1t was futile to prolong
negotiations. Such was the Japans Sc view.
based upon what we underst and to have
been Russ!a's own statement of the case.
/. When the full text of the d plomltc corre-
spondence is revealed, il 1t ever is, we shall
know more upon the subject. but that in
creased knowledge seems at least as likely
tire case Meantime. all neutral people Will
do we'll while keeping clearly In mind all
the known facts. to refrlin from partisa an
| passion on either s. de OF war. which Is
none of our making ard In which We are
| not gong TO be involved, ard both parties
TO which we desire always 10 r G ard as our
fr,crdS.