Bisbee daily review., 1904-02-14
Why Japan Wars
 For ManChuria
GENERAL BELIEF THAT RUSSIA WAS NEGOTIATING A SEP
 ARATE TREATY.
most Duplicity-And She Did Net Wish to Sacrifice the Chances Of French Support.

Ameflca0S WnO nave not lOtiCReu the course of events in the Far East with any particular attention may be excused for wondering why Japan should be so insistent upon the point of the Russian recognition of Chinese sovereignty in Manchuria as to be willing to go to war upon it. IL might be an answer to such inquiries to re- mind them that Russia also makes this apparently trivial and formal point casus belli Unless the dispatches, which bear the greatest appearance Of being authorized and authentic. are mere rumor and guess work. Russia declines to bind herself to this ac- acknowledgement. apparently upon the ground that she is already committed 10 it.
 So she is. or so would any power be which attached importance to its own repeated assurances. when they hap pened to conflict with is immediate interests. The fact is. as every one knows who has followed the course of events in the Far East, that Russia's course on this question has been one Of the most tortuous and one of the most perfdious that any power which pretended to a decent respect to the opinions of mankind" has ever taken upon, any question. For three years Russia has abounded in assurances. to which she could not be very well held, of the innocence of her intentions with respect to Manchuria, and consequent ly to China. Japan, the limit of whose endurance seems now 10 have been reached. insists that Russia shall re spect those assurances in a manner which will enable a power in interest to hold her to them.
 Tire. general belief that Russia was negotiating a separate treaty with China, and in respect to Mancharia, appears to have been the immediate motive of the note of our state depart ment communicated to the powers March l, 1901, but not published till March 2S. In this note China was ac- monished against making separate ar rangemeIts with any single power. Such arrangements were made the subject of formal protest. and the de- sire of this government to maintain the integrity of China was plainly set forth
 The response was immediate. On March 6 the British ambassador at St. Petersburg reported that Count Lans- dorf had assured him that the czar had no intention of departing in any way from the assurance he had publicly given that Manchuria would be entire ly restored to it's former condition 7n the Chinese empire as soon as circum- stances admitted" There is however now no doubt, nor was there any then, that Russia was trying to make sap arate and private bargain with China about Manchuria-
 That effort was a gross breach O. faith. considering that Russia was pro claiming her adherence to the demand that the integrity of China should De preserved. It was a gross breach CT faith also. seeing that the ciElhzeu world was then engaged in 1olnt movement for the improvement oi con citions in China. for one of the powers engaged in that movement 10 enter upon any private and separate ar rangemeut or agreement with China
  whatever.
 Russia has never said anything 10 contradict the assurance of Count Lansdorf to the British ambassador Neither has she ever done anything to make that assurance good. II was followed. the middle of the next Jaiy, by the seizure by Russia Of the Amer ican port of NinChTang. Then came a long course of diplomauc pressure upon her to get out of Man cburia. and a long course on her par of diplomatic eQuivocation to excuse her. not getting out. Finally the pres srre of the commercial nations induced her to fix dates for the evacuation O. the several parts of Manchuria walc1 she retained. But every one oi these nronises have been dishonored- AhE robodv now has any excuse Tor Deilef- ing that Russia intends. or ever Aas IT, tended. to keep faith with respect lo Nanchuria. It is her evident desire and intention to make the very utmost ! of her anomalous and underlined posl- ten in that province. to plead Cnl- nese sovereignty" when that will serve her turn. and Russian interests when that seems plausible plea.
 What can be done with nation like that. except to have all your deaiinss with it set down in black and whiteF And how can anybody who considers these things blame Japan for insisting that Russia shall once for all and un- rnietakably define her position by a fuiI and complete recognition or Col-- nese sovereignty in Manchuria.