The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07

CONCLUDED FROM PAGE l, PART p
Chinese Manchuria. The coveting of Lao
Tung was therefore a fine diplomatic move
but unfortunately for Japan, her plan mis-
carried. Liao-Tung, she reckoned, VIII en-
able us TO hem in Korea north and south,
and, a consequence. that empire VIII nave
to say Amen" TO every proposal. BESIDES,
its possession will make us near nelghDors
to the powers in Pekin enabling us TO exer-
else the necessary pressure TO force emma
into joint action against Russia. From
strategical standpoint, too, the Japs wouiu
have been stronger in Liao-Tung than in
Korea herself.
RUSSIA OUTwITTED JAPAN.
Russia, of course, appreciated the value
of Liao-Tung as much as did Japan, and
with the aid OF two other European powers
forbade its acquisition by the Mikado.
Then, eight years ago, Japan should have
shown her teeth to Russia: at that time Ko-
rea would have served as Japans Hinter7
land. the natural treasury of her commits
sary department. At that time, too the
Trans-Siberian Railway was still scheme
on paper taking il all together, 1895 was
Japans opportunity for assuming the Of
fensive towards Russia. Now it may be
too late
Let US recapitulate what has happened
since 1895 In Europe and Asia with respect
to Russia:
First, Liao-Tung has fallen into Russian
hands; second the Trans-Siberian road is
finished; third, Russia has completed her
army and navy programme as well as her
What is Russia to fight for? Manchuria
and China? No, she wants Korea.
The writer, who studied the interests
| of both Japan and Russia the spot, as
an unbiased observer, is inclined to think
| that, from a political standpoint, Russia s
| interests in Korea are far more important
| to the world than those of Japan.
japanese diplomats have taken care to
| educate European and American public
J opinion in the belief that Japan cannot do
without Korea unless she fall from her high
| estate. Here are some of the diplomatic
arguments: The increase of population in
Japan is so great, that she must buy the
| greater part of her food-stuffs outside.
| Japan is large, mountainous country, and
| the soil under cultivation having been
worked necessarily for centuries. its pro-
| ductive power is much diminished. Korea
| acted Japan's purveyor of rice and beans,
| staple food stuffs, for a very long period.
| Again, Japan needs an outlet for her ex-
cess population, being already one of the
| most thickly populated countries in the
world, and looks upon Korea to remedy
| these shortcomings. Korea is her neighbor,
| very thinly populated, but rich in natural
products. Moreover, the Japs have had
| most southern harbor, Fusan, is entirely in
Japanese hands, so is the harbor of the
| capital, Seoul-correctly Seoul"
The Japs arguments are plain, but uncon-
| vincing. III they held good in general poll
| tics, Germany, for instance, might put in
a claim for the annexation of the United
| stuffs, and sends her surplus population
| to the United States. Ii shall not be denied
| that Japan needs Korean products 10 feed
| her millions, and Korean soil for her ex-
cess population to settle on, but she car
have all that and much more without max
| ing Korea japanese province.
RUSSIA'S RIGHTS TO KOREA.
Let us see what Russia has done to excuse
her claim for Korea Above all. she built
the Trans-Siberian Railway. a thoroughfore
for all the world, the Importance of which
grows greater as years pile up and as the
| development of Eastern Siberia continues
Russia built the city of Vladivostok, Z
harbor of vast Importance to her own PEG
pie no less than TO the United States Grea
| Britain, France Germany and all tradinG
nations When Vladivostok proved mac
cessable in winter, Russia built auxiliar,
railway lines through Manchuria TO Por
| Arthur and Dalni, on the Yellow sea. TIL.
| Russian-Siberian coast line. together Will
Chinese Manuchuria, are three times al
large as Germany and already demand tn
attention of merchants the world over
The commercial value of these vast terri
tories is steadily increasing. holding GU
great promise TO traders.
OF equal Importance. from a commercial
standpoint, is the Russia Amur PROVING
and it's capital, Nikola iewsk, the latter al
ready on the eve of phenomenal develop
ment-provided the waterways leading to
are free as air. Without free waterway
Vladivostok, too, will never attain fun de
| velopment. Both these cities and har
| bors imperatively demand a free oceat
facing them as well as a free Hinterlan f
Without an open sea, these ports are a
locked gates.
To develop into a real worlds harho,
Vladvostok and the chief city of the Anu
province must command a free sea route I
the United States, Australia, China. Jana