The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-27
HOW RUSSIANS
WIN LEADERSHIPS
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
Skrydloff is charged with the direction
of the operations of the battered fleet
at Port Arthur.
Both parties are united on one
point: that the war must be fought
out to the bitter end. and that that
end shall be Russia's triumph.
Count Cassini's Action.
To understand to-day's situation in
internal politics In Russia, 1t is nee
essary to revert to the genesis Of the
Manchurian question. My investiga-
ton has firmly convinced me, I may
say In passing, that when Count Cas-
SIM, the Russian minister to China
(now ambassador to the United
States), negotiated the lease Of Port
Arthur, he had no,idea that his coun-
try would seek to acquire all Of Man
churia. It was the natural conse-
quence Of the taking Of Port Arthur
that Russia should seek control of
Masampho, Korea, thereby making
a connection with Vladivostok.
ALI this could have been avoided
had Great Britain not opposed Rus
sia's acquisition of Port Lazareff, on
the Korean shore of the Sea of Japan,
avoided or at least postponed for some
years. But the acquisition of Port
Arthur and Dalny was the beginning
of the struggle. Alexieff, desiring to-
be a second Muravieff, who forced
Russia into far eastern Siberia, de-
termined that the opportunity was
impending when his country should
ioa Y,t
Manchurian region and enjoy the ice
free waters of the Yellow sea.
But Alexieff, thousands of miles
from st. Petersburg, could not impose
his will upon the emperor. Here it
was that he found an ally in Bezo-
brazoff man Of intense purpose, an
excellent talker, and already of con-
siderable influence.
Bezobrazof was vigorously sup
ported by Prince Uchtomsky, editor
Of the St. Petersburg Viedomosti, who
has expanded the Pan-Slav1c empire
to include as much of the far east
as may be necessary for the great
ness OF that empire. These men were
supported by several minister's among
them Plehve, who would gain per-
sonally by the humiliation Of the min
listers in the peace party.
The Boxer outbreak came, and then
began the motion Of the pendulum
first swinging to the policy Of an
nexatton and then to the policy Of
holding simply to what had been
gained under the Cassini convention.
correspondence, and to find one day
telegram from a general, who has
crossed into Manchur1a and defeated
the Chinese troops, announcing to the
emperor that more territory has been
added to his dominions, and almost
at the same time discover a solemn
notification to the powers, issued by
Count Lamsdorff. in which it is posi-
lively stated that Russia has no ute
rior designs upon Chinese territory.
The Anglo-Jap Treaty.
The Anglo-Japanese treaty was
terrible blow to the Alexieff- Bezobra-
zoff party. The response which Rus
STA and France made was less effective
than is generally known, for the SIM
pie reason that Manchuria was exclud-
ed from it's scope-a fact that was not
at the time apparent to the rest of the
world. The car was advised of the
danger of the forward policy of
Alexieff and Bezobrazoff, and he in
structed Count Lamsdor to negotiate
a treaty for the evacuation Of Man
church. He honestly carried out the
first provision in relation to the evacu-
alton of the southern portion of the
region.
Alexieff and Bezobrazoff accepted the
treaty without protest; any other
course would have been folly. They
were the first to recover from the eff
feet of the Anglo-Japanese alliance.
They were satisfied, they told the
czar, that Great Britain would not en-
gage in another costly war, especially
over the comparatively minor ques-
ton of Manchuria, and their informa-
ton convinced them that Japan was
not financially in condition to under
take hostile operations such as would
be necessary against Russia.
1t took them a year to impose
the cars forces had retired from
Mukden. Then, again, rumors began
to circulate of more Russian demands
upon China, which contemplated fur
Their concessions to the Muscovite
power. Count Lamsdorff denied
them. His denial was hardly uttered
when the cause of the delay in the
evacuation treaty was explained by
the Russian charge d'affaires in
Picking. He notified Prince Ching
that the delay was due to the military
party In Russia.
Having been long stationed in the
people, and did not let Japan's indig-
nation disturb him. His position was
strengthened by the polite suggestion
of Japan that Russia engage in new
negotiations for the settlement Of the
question pending between them. It
| looked as If Japan, in spite Of her al
| lance with Great Britain, had de-
termined to settle with Russia by ne
| collation.. There was jubilation
among the Observation-Disclosures party
when the news reached st. Petersburg.
! On Aug. IL the czar created the
viceroyalty Of the far east, and APP
pointed Alexieff to the post. He or
gained the committee to formulate
policies in regard to this vast region.
A terrific blow was administered to
| the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. combi-
nation by the transfer nAug. 20 Of De-
Witte from the position of finance
minister to that Of president of the