The progress., 1904-03-05
Primer Of Russia and Japan.

w nat ls tne trOuDle In Tie Ia
East?
Japan is trying to keep Rassi
J out Of Korea.
What is Korea and where Is i
situated?
Korea is an autOcracy under Jap
anese influence, about as large a.
Kansas, with population estimated
at between 8, 900, 900 and $4,000,
600. The empire occupies PENN
sula just south Of Siberia, juttine
out into the Pacific ocean between
the yellow Sea and Sea of Japan,
and reaching within less than lot
miles Of the southern end of Japan.
j l. Korea a rich country?
Not especially. II Is purely
agricultural land and the method of
cultivation is primitive. A few
gold mines are operated and there
are supposed to be few deposits of
copper, iron and coal.
Why, then, does Russia want
Korea?
Chiefly because Of its position.
Korea is ali exiention of Manchurla,
which practically belongs to Russia.
In the natural development Of con-
,iguous territory, Russian mer>
chants have crossed the boundary
into Korea and Russian interests
! accumulating there under the weak
rative government naturally looked
to the czar for protection.
Why is Korea of strategic value
to Russia?
For two reasons. First, Russian
vessels must make long detour
around Korea to pass from Vladivo-
stock, Siberia, to Port Arthur, the
Russian harbor OF Manchuria. In
this journey they must traverse a
narrow strait between Korea aud
japanese Island, comparable to
Gibraltar. To insure free passage
Russia seeks TO control the end Of
the Korean peninsula. Second,
when Russia begins It's anticipated
absorption of China IL would be in
convenient if q hostile power should
have military base on the north
eastern coast of Asia. Therefore
it desires to annex Korea.
Why does Japan object to the
Russian annexation of Korea?
Because Japan is overcrowded
with population ten times as dense
as that of the United States and 1t
seeks an outlet for its emigrants on
the main land. The island empire
hoped, too, 10 make Korea base of
an attempt to extend japanese in>
fiuence throughout China. Further.
more it now conducts nine tenths of
korea's commerce and owns K0rea's |
two railways. And, finally, Japan
holds its own independence would
be menaced were Russia to gain the
harbor at the end of the Korean
peninsula almost within cannon
range of the japanese island fort
ress of Tsushima.
Does Japan want to annex Korea?
No. 1t is satisfied 10 maintain
Koreans sovereignty with the ex-
pectation that its natural adv antages
of situation will give it The lions
share of Korea's trade.
When did the trouble between
Japan and Russia begin?
1t legn in 1895 when by war
Japan forced China to recognize
Korea's independence and to grant
Japan the southern end OF Man.
,huria. Russia forced Japan 10
give up Manchuria, seized the sur.
rendered territory and secured
timber cutting concession in the
Yalu valley in Korea.
What brought on the present
crisis?
Last year Russia advanced the
claim that the timber concession ex
tended TO the valleys of all rivers
tributary to the Yalu, and that it
gives Russians. the right to build
railways and TO monopolize the
port of Yonsampho at the Yalu's
mouth.
Did Russia announce its inten-
tion to annex Korea?
1t did not. Bnt Japan took the
ground that its procedure meant vir-
tnal annexation and so issued a