Daily Kennebec journal., 1904-02-17
PRINCIPLES AT ISSUE.
Much Historical Study on Great Inter-
national Conflict.

been necessary " reveal tle luiIud-
mental principles at issue. That is not
true of the present conflict between
japan and Russia. There are, OF
course many points of actual and po-
tential difference between the two
powers. and many important interests
at stake. But the really decisive is
sues are quite clear. Some are regard
ed by Japan as vital some are not.
Perhaps none is, in the premises at
least, vital to Russia. On the eve of
settlement by war. it is worth while to
picture from the Japanese view point
the main issues involved.
First the background of the picture
must be clearly fixed. 1t is a wide
awake and thoroughly modernized
Japan with every national organ Gre
ated, quickened, and rapidly expand
ing Not only agricultural, forestry,
fishing and mines, but also industry,
transportation and trade show strik-
ing growth. Fair indices are the fol-
lowing: In ten years QS93-19O3) rail-
way mileage in operation increased
from 1871 to 4237 miles, while the value
of foreign trade increased from 11S,000.-
900 to 696,6OO.0O0 yen. In seven years
ships exceeding 500 tons increased from
1853 to 540,349 tons. The capital in
vested by companies increased in five
years 1S96-190D from 397 10000 to $685.,
500 600 yen. In the last stated five years
the aggregate capital and reserve of
ordinary banks increased from 97,000,-
600 to 29O,60O,OOO yen. while deposits
rose from c593 to 5SO77 million yen. In
view of the limited area of cultivable
lands, the high birth rate and the ris
ing STANDARD of living, pressure Of pop
ulatiOn is tremendous and overflow in
evitablo.
A minor issue, much distorted and
much exaggerated in current discus
sion abroad, is the fact that Russian
aggression now covers the very terri
tory from which. under preteXt of pre-
serving the integrity of China, and the
worlds peace. Russia secured the as
sistancc of France and Germany in
1896 to drive out Japan. The incident
has weight only because Russia has
chosen to keep open and to aggravate
the sore. It's full significance, however
appears in the light of two further
facts: First when forced by Russia,
France and Germany to cede Manchu
ria back to China, Japan pressed for
q stipulation in the treaty with China,
Pcdging China not in future to cede
any of the territory in question to any
other foreign power. Secondly. Russia.
with the effective support of France
and Germany, successfully opposed the
Insertion Cf such a stipulation, on the
fround that it could contemplate act
ion by Russia (alone) and that. since
Russia would never be an aggressor Or
disturbor of peace in the Orient, it was
unnecessary. Nainly had Japan arg
ued that the cession of Manchuria die
not concern any third power.
An issue, or rather a group of issues.
of much greater importance is the
threatened sitting of important eco
nomic aspirations of Japan. Already a
number Of Japanese enterprises are es-
tahliShed in the territory now gripped
by the octopus-arms of Russia. An
extensive commerce with these regions,
the expansion of Japanese enterprises
and the settlement of numerous Japa-
ncsc cmisrantS in them are cherished
aspirations of Japan. Should the ter
ritOry PASS under the recognized SOW
ercignty of Russia, these hopes must
die, for the Russian barriers against
foreign enterprise, foreign settlement
ana foreign trade will be scarcely less
exclusive than the erst-while Chinese
barriers.
That. however. is not the limit of
these issues. Russian expansion is like
tho growth of those plants which send
out runners" and which by devious
their field of occupation. Indeed, visi-
BILE runners are already extending in
the direction of Mongolia, Tibet and
even Corea. If Russian Interests" re-
quire the occupation OF these provinces,
why not also the richer Chinese prov
inces to the south? In the light of ex-
istinS facts it is idle more to speak of
'ice-free ports on the Pacific" as the
limit of Russian ambitions. 'Ice-free
ports do not lie in the direction of
Mongolia or Tibet. If, by the logic of
events. railway concessions require
territorial occupation for their protec-
| tion. then how much of China even now
lies outside of the Russian plan?
classification of these regions means
practical closing to Japan OF her near
est and best market. The value of ex-
ports from Japan in 1902 was Gn mil
lion yen): To China. 46S; to Hong
kong. Oareely for Chinese conSump-
tion), 2o.9; to COraa, 106;-tOgether, 49, 3
out of IL total of 25S, 900, 900. Only two
other countries bought from Japan val
ues in excess of 2O00O.O0O yen, viz: the
United Statets. S0.2, and France. PA.
OF her 271.1 million yen worth OF i'm
ports. Japan drew from China 4O.6, from
Corea, 3: from Hongkong, 2.5, or ap-
proximately 50,0O9,0OO yen worth from
the above-named sources. Actually far
the best. these markets are regarded
by Japan as indispensable to her COM
mercial and industrial future. Distance,
lack of capital and experience-not to
speak of customs tariffs-make rather
hopeless for the Japanese a competi-
ton in European and American mar
kets in those industries which they
have learned from Europeans and
Americans. China is nearby. Japan
knows the tastes. the language, the
business methods, the psychology of
the Chinese. She can produce cheaply
the things which Chinese wish. In near
ness and in knowledge she has an i'm
mense advantage over Westerners in
trading with them. To her and to