Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-26
WILL WIN
Count 0kuma Describes the
Events That Led to War.
Japan Wants No territory Only Rus.
sia's Withdrawal,
Declares Fight Is Between New Civil
zation and Old Despotism.

| Count Okum. who has for twcnt,
years been prominent in Japancs,
politics and is now leader Of the oppo.
sition in the diet. lives about one hours
lide from Tokyro. His house, in truth
Il palace, is situated in the midst OF
grounds renowned even in Japan, the
Eomc Of beautiful gardens. Near by is
the college or university which he sup
ports and where 1000 Japanese youths
are getting their education. The count
is Il little lame. and leaned on Il cane
as he rose to receive me. He is a man
of about 60. wearing the native
costume. He has d large head, large
features. with high cheek bones, and Il
large mouth. AS soon as he begins to
speak one fOrgets his age, for his eye
lights up and he speaks with the inter
| est and energy Of a young man.
Around him were gathered a number
of tie professors of his university and
| Il few japanese newspaper men. Be
fore giving me the statement which
forms the body of this article, he spoke
with interest of things American and
showed me the index of a book he was
getting out for the St. Louis exposition
on the influence of Anglo-Saxon
civilization in the far east.
The room in which we sat was a
curious combination of Japanese AMI
foreign construction and ornamental
ton. Old Japanese pictures hung on
the walls. We sat in comfortable
modern chairs. and in the CRATE burned
a very modern fire of gas over the
tinseicd asbestos limitations of wood
logs. Tea was served in delicate Japa-
nose porcelain cups. The floor was
covered with Japanese mating and the
furniture was of black Chinese wood.
richly carved. / took out my notebook
and wrote down verbatim the trans
lation which one of the professors gave
to the counts statement.
about 1000 years ago we were living
under Il feudal regime" said Count
Okuma, land our people were enjoying
peace and had forgotten war. At the
end of the Napoleonic wars Russia be-
gan TO come over to the far east and
sent many of her adventures to dis
turb the SaGhalen islands. A REFORM
alton was then taking place in OUT old
fcudal social fabric and just at that
time the internal condition of Japan
was in Il condition of constant disorder.
For twenty-five years we struggled
with Russia over the Saghalien islands
and were at last compelled to give
them up. Also while this country was
in confusion Russia in 1862, occupied
part of the Tsushima islands for IL time
We could not drive them away. and the
English fleet interfered to get them out.
Since then our people have had a deep
antirathy to Russia. Through the
kindness of the United States our
country gradually came in contact COM
"'"rcially with European powers and
the English language introduced
European thought very rapidly. BY
the reformation our country began to
be ruled under united government
and at the same time our sentiment of
fear Of Russia changed into a determi-
nation to resist. Soon Russia attitud"
changed entirely. Japan was treated
in Il more friendly way.
Then came trouble with China over
Korea. This lasted twenty years. Dur
ing this period Russia WAS rather more
friendly with Japan than with China and
our old feeling of hatred was somewhat
mitiSated thereby. but at the end of the
last Carbohydrates war Russia changed
her attitude again. and with the support
of France and Germany partially destroy
ed the effect of the glorious treaty OF
ShimonOseki by advising Japan in a
friendly, but none the less significant way
not to take the peninsula of Liaotong. AT
that time the patriots of our country
were almost inclined to fight against the
three powers that took from Japan the
just fruits of her victory. but our states
H. ~r Grin #
decided to endure this injustice.
Again that old feeling against Russia.
which for the time being had subsidized.
came back to us with new meaning. Two
forces were at work in the Orient-one
new civilization strongly influenced by the
Anglo-SaXOn language and traditions. the
other the old western barbarc force OF
deSpotic government and military agEran-
dZcment. The conclusion has forced it
self upon us as a nation that these two
forces are bound to meet in a conflict in
which one or the other must conquer
Had RusSia's desire to keep the peace
in the orient been sincere Japan might
have become reconcilcd to the interior
ence of the three wOpers in altering the
treaty of Shimonoscki. But in less than
two years after she had advised Japan not
to take the LiaotonG peninsula. for the
sake of the peace in the orient, Russia
herself seized this peninsula and proceed,
ed to fortify Port Arthur. If we had
fought at that time We would have had
good cause, but our nation was willing to
endure.
During the last Boxer uprising Russia
occupied almost the whole of Manchuria
with troops. We all expected that after
the trouble was over. just as the other
powers evacuated Fekin and Tien-Tsin,
Russia would evacuate Manchuria. She
promised to do so. but broke her word. 1t
is now past a doubt that Russia intends
to occupy Manchuria permanently. Such
an occupation threatens the independence
and integrity of Korea and the doctrine OF
the open door in the whole of China.
when, some years ago. Japan was nd-
viscd not to occupy the Liaotong PENN
Sula she acceded to that advice for the
sake of the peace of the orient. Now the
Russian occupation of Manchuria not only
endangered the independence of Korea.
and the security of Japan. There was
nothing left for us to do but TO resist to
the utmost, and as a nation We deter
mined to stop. if it lay in our power. the
have had important relations with Korea.
for more than 1000 years. and anything
that affects that country stirs the nation
al feeling of Japan. The details Of the
dissolution of the last imperial dict snow
that the national will and sentiment are
most determined about the present crisis.
Il think that l have said enough 70
show that the force of the present senti-
ment among our people is not transient,
but the result of the deep-rooted deter
mination to struggle with power winch
has has been at work against us Tor I"o
years. 1t is a well-known fact that