The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-01-07
Russians Send Force to Prevent Jap
'- anese From Landing Troops
a on Corean Coast.
Hope Of Peaceable Settlement IL Almost
Gone and News Of Clash Is Momen-
tarily Expected by Russians.

declarations Of disirterestedncss In
Man.huria made by Russia. and rccog-
ming Rlssias special intrests In that
reginn. wished to regulate, once for all,
all questions In the far east, In the in
tcrest of future peace aud Tranquility.
To this end Japan made the following
proposals;
First --R Issia and Japan should mu-
tuaily respect IN. independence ard
territorial integrity OF China and corea
second TO recognize reciprocally--
Ja,an. the special interests OF Russia
In Manchuria; Russia. the special in
terests OF Japan In corea.
"Third-To engage mutually not to
infringe Japan, the commercial rights
and irnnunities acquired by Russia In
Corea; Russia, the commercial rights
and immunities acquired by Japan in
Manchuria.
In making the third proposition.
Japan wished rot only to protect her
rights Ii, China and those of Russia
In -orea, but to censecrate by the prin-
ciple Of equality the commercial rights
OF all nations In corea and China.
Russia declined Japan's propositions
and submitted a counter proposition,
which contained clause providing for
the creating of a neutral zone. extend
ing from the China -corean frontier 20
Wong Tan, on the east, and to Ping
Yang. on the west. The zone COM
prlscd almost third Of corea."
This Russian pretension took from
japan all guarantee Of the protection
Of her rights in Manchuria and seques-
tratcd a considerable part Of Corea.
where, without contradiction. Jaoan's
interests preponderate, and which every
nation recognizes as being within the
legitimate sphere of Japan.
"rhc proposal exasperated Japanese
put,ic opinion. Japan could not ac-
cept the proposal for these reasons:
"Eirst-.The definite occupation by
Russia of Manchuria would be II per-
manent menace TO the independence OF
,,orea. which Japan mast prevent ut
any price, for Corea is an advance post
of Japan's line II defense and the SAT-
ETY. Of Corea is condition sine qua non
Of her own security,
"Second- Japan has, as other powers
lights and immunities In Manchuria'
by virtue of treaties with China. These
rishts and immlmittes cannot be left
to the mercy OF Russia. The refusal OF
Russia to examine the Manehurian
question denoted on her part the in
tertion not TO observe the rights of all
nations In that region. Most evident
n,non; other proofs of this intention on
the matt of Russia were the occupation
Df Yang Tung rcheng and the reoccu-
nation of Mukden, Every one knows
that by the new treaties concluded by
The United States and Japan with
China one city and two ports We're TO
,e opened to the commerce of the world
Yang Tung Tcheng and Mukden were
he two points chosen. BY the occu-
patton of these ports Russia prevented
1hina from fulfilling the obligations OF
Ter treaties.
an CoNea equally acts of Russia have
,ad. as a result the closing of the Pa'u
iVer to foreign commerce, Japan asKeu
,orea, simultaneously with the United
States and Great Britain, to open TINS
epion 10 International commerce. In
occupying Tong Wang Pou (Yongam-
,ho), the only port in north Corea'
russia paralyzed the realization of this
,roiect, Japan then had reason 10
ear that letting Russia alops-would re-
,ult in closing the Yellow Sea and the
Interior Of Mauchuria to international
commerce.
ain struggling with all her force
.gainst the pretenslens of Russia in the
ar east, Japan works, not only for her.
ielf but for all nations. Japan does
,ot ignore the dangers and risks of an
,rmed conflict with Russia, and does