Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-02-24
THE CAUSE OF THE WAR.

ElNCh ny ttC OiOuA Sity 10 ~
clear and explicit that we publish it
herewith. The Journal calls atten-
tion to the fact that although by Its
insistence that the responsibility for
the impending war must lodge upon
Japan the Russian government may be
able to deceive its own people. the
world at large, which can view the
question from both sides, must reach
a different conclusion. Russian d.
plomacy may be given credit. how
ever, for arranging the re cord in such
shape that if details instead of tie
larger issues are scrutinized Japan
will be found to have been wholly OH
the aggressive. Indeed, The Russian
government might go into JOINT de-
bate and make pretty good showing
specifically in support of the conten.
tion that Japan has forced this war
upon Russia. In way, that is the
truth, although it IS far from settling
the question of responsibility.
For years Russia's ambitions for
territorial acquisition have been in
viting war The inception of the
present trouble came at the close of
the Japanese Chinese war, seven
years ago. At that time Japan had
won complete victory over China
and was proceeding to take some of
the logical fruits of victory. Japan
needed territory. Her excuse for TAX
ing over Manchuria and establishing
herself in Korea was as valid as any
nation has ever had at the close of
war of conquest. In the hour of tri
umph, however, Russian diplomacy
robbed japan of the spoils of war
Russia promoted a general European
Intervention, which ousted Japan
from Port Arthur and made her agree
to the continued independence OF
Korea. Except on the part of Russia
this intervention was a mistake. a
fact which is now recognized in the
other European capitals. Japan was
a growing and progressive power. and
the cause of civilization would have
been advanced if Japan had been al
lowed to extend her influence to Man
churia and Korea. Russia was the on
ly power which stood to profit direct
ly by the intervention, as events have
proved.
No sooner had Japan, helpless in the
fact OF the united European protest.
been ousted from Manchuria than Rus
sia proceeded to take possession. One
concession after another was forced
from the PROSTATE government of
China until now Russia is in practical
possession of the province. Having
had European assistance in ousting
Japan. of course Russia could not ex-
pect Europe to acquiesce in the alb
sorption of the province by Russia.
Therefore it was that Russia pro-
claimed to the world that her only OBJ
iects in Manchuria were commercial
and that Russia would not attempt
to acquire territory or take charge of
the government. Practically all that
Japan is now asking of Russia is that
she shall redeem this pledge.
The most specific form taken by the
Russian assurances was a written
promise to Withdraw her troops from
Mapchuria, naming date in October
last when the evacuation should be ac-
complished. The pledge was uncondi-
tional. but when the time came to full
fill it Russia presented a long string
of conditions which the Chinese
government mast grant before the eva
cuation would be effected. With the
support of Europe and the United
States, China refuses to grant the con
aitions, and Russia frankly announced
that she felt at liberty to maintain in
definitely the status quo in Manchuria
That was the act on Russia's part
which brought on the war. Her own
forces having been driven from Man
churia, Japan was determined that
Russia should not be allowed to remain
in peaceable possession of the pro-
vince. Japan's resentment was still
further increased by the steady en-:
croachment of Russia's influence in
Korea, which if unchecked must make
the Russian sway there as potent as in
Manchuria.
Since last October Japan has been
using all the resources of her diplom-
acy to induce Russia to enter into a
treaty agreeing to recognize Man
churia as Chinese province and
Korea as neutral territory. Russia
was not asked to sacrifice any COM
mercial CT naval privileges already
acquired. but to admit that in the fu-
ture all nations should stand on an
equal footing in Manchnria and
Korea. Japan was willing to take her
chances in commercial rivalry will,
Russia, but insisted Russia should not
violate her pledges by actually COB.