The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-14

most conservative counselors of the siren
uous young man in the White House,
interview on the situation in the far Eas,
which l hav had with Senator Beverage
to-day. h Senator has supplemented his
trip to the Philippines by others to China,
Japan, Siberia and Russia. He has met
the leading statesmen Of all these coun-
tries. and has actually studied the Man
chrrian question on the ground. The in
terview took place In the Senator's apart
ments in the Portland Flats. IN Thomas
circle. My first question was:
What are the Russians and japanese
squGl hlirg about?"
They are not squabbling." replied Sem
ator Beveridge. THE matter is a serious
one to both parties, and, 1 might say. of
almost national lif. or death to one OF
struggle means to the japanese. They re-
gard it as he salvation or ruin of their
country. The Russians look upon it as the
keystone of their future. They regard
sessions in Siberia and TO their prospec-
lively greater ones in China as WELL"
Give me in a nutshell the story Of the
trouble, Senator?' said l..
TT Is a matter of history" was the re-
ply. Japan fought its war with China.
1t licked China. and as one of the terms
Of peace it was granted Port Arthur,
churia. The Ink was hardly dry upon that
cession before the TRIBE Alliance OF
France. Germany and Russia sent word
~ III -siihdub lItdt II Wbuiu be al SIdIu!lS
menace to the peace of the world for
Japan to occupy that territory, and they
asked him to give Manchuria back 10
S1nina; The request was made In polite
1t, and the Mikado dared not refuse. He
gave 1t back. although the Japanese peo-
pie stormed, ~denouncing Russia as the
cause of the trouble.
HOW RUSSIA TOOK MANCHURIA.
well. Il few months after that the Ger
,..,. -
Kiachow Bay and a railroad and other
rights in the Province of Shantung. Their
request was granted and Russia there
upon demanded the cession of Port Arthur
for the term of twenty-five wears and the
right to extend her railroad through Man
churia TO the Yellow Sea. This was also
granted and Japan saw the territory she
had fought 30 hard for. and which she had
been compelled to give up, handed over to
the Russians. who had been the CHIEF
actors In the ~cOmpulsion.
The Japanese were angry and almost
ready to fight then, but he Russians said
they only wanted a place Tor their rail-
road and they promised to evacuate Man.
cburia within a certain time;
The Japanese assented to this and wait
ed. The time came and went and the
Russians remained. They gave excuses
fer remaining, but they are there to-day.
They are not only there; but have been
down toward Korea. AMI Japan Is afraid
that they will cross the ialu and go down
the Korean Peninsula 10 the bottom,
where their guns might be mounted with
In cannon shot of the japanese Empire.
Does that mean that the Russians
want Korea? ?"
so the Japanese think" replied Sem
ator Beveridge. "Korea is a w~edge-split-
ting Eastern Siberia from Southern Nam
churia. 1t has better harbors than Man
%clluria. and If the Russians could extend
their railroad into It, their landing would
he farther south. II they do not take II
they fear the Japanese will. n that the
Japanese in Korea might be a menace to
Russian progress toward the acquisition
of the rest of Asia. which NAM Of the
Cars people believe to be their Destiny
Would the Japanese be satisfied IL the
Russians rave. up Korea to them?'
81 think So replied Senate Beveridge.
''They would for a time at least. although
this struggle vas bound to come sooner
or later. Both nations need territory, and
the Japanese especially so. Both nations
hope to control the trade of Eastern Asia,
and each is jealous and afraid of the 9TH
er. IL they could combine and become al
lies as to the future OF China thev might
have peace. hut that Is not probable"
MANCHURIA AND THE JAPANESE.
Tell me something about M%anchuria.
Senator. What rot the Japanese have
done with It had the Triple Alliance let
them stay?"
They would have made a second Japan