Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-04-22
King Edward as Mediator.

The report that King Edward of
England has delicately rendered bis
good offices as Il mediator in the war
between Russia and Japan aud that
Gar Nicholas has intimated that such
mediation would be accepted is inter
esting and significant and may prove TO
be extremely important.
As the titular head OF the leading
and most powerful European govern
ment the king of England is we'll lifted
for such pacific mission. He is pecul-
iarly situated with reference TO the
rulers OF Europe. being the uncle by
marriage of the car of Russia, Nicho-
las IL; the brother OF the dowager em-
press of Germany and uncle of the
empero~ William IL. and son-in-law
Of the king OF Denmark, whose family
is closely connected with both Russia
and Germany. While his age-he is
sixty -three-gives him natural pres
tige with his nephews. the czar and the
emperor. he is still in the possession
of his physical and mental powers and
has the advantage Of long years of
personal intimacy with them. during
which he il reputed 10 have won their
affection and respect, a fact that may
well re-enforce his position as the SOW
ereign of mighty and worldwide do
minion. Though he may not direct the
policy of his government, he can infu-
ence il indirectly and can very effectu-
ally cooperate with it. He has broad
affairs of all the nations with which he
is connected than any other ruler. He
has also the reputation. no doubt well
founded, of being a man OF calm JUDI
nent and OF peace loving temperament,
with no suspicion of weakness in his
attachment to the honor or the inter-
ests of his own people. What such
man in such Il position may feel and
think and do is likely to have Il sub
stantial and even decisive influence on
the course OF events
While the interests OF Great Britain
and Russia may clash at various points,
there does not seem to be any such ir-
reconcilable difference between the na
tional aims and purposes Of the two
powers as would forbid an understand
ing between them. The essential OBJ
jective OF Russia has been for several
generations access to the ocean high
way of the world through ports not
frozen half the year preferably through
the Mediterranean, with possession or
control of Constantinople. the first seat
of the empire of the east and the birth
place of the Greek church. Motives OF
interest, ambition aud religion combine
TO make this the strongest national de-
sire of the Russians. Their failure 10
accomplish ii has been largely due 10
British opposition, which has been in
spired through fear of Russia's inter-
ference with Great Britaln's interests
in Asia If now British opposition to
Russia's possession of a Mediterranean
port were withdrawn, the latter would
no doubt be willing TO forego her pos
session of Manchuria and an open port
on the Yellow sea, which <e essen
tally the things Russia is lighting for
in the far east and which Japan SO
strenuously objects to her having. If
| Russia were enabled thus to reach the
sea in the near east she would un-
! doubtedly be glad to withdraw from
the far east.
Some such arrangement as this
would settle at once the questions of
| the orient and the Levant which have
for generations vexed the statesmen of
| Europe. OF course 1t could only be
done through the safeguarding Of the
| essential interests Of all parties. For
| Great Britain the first necessity is an
adequate guarantee of her position in
| India. A second and hardly less i'm
| portant necessity Is the security of her
/ trade. present and future. in the Chi
| nese dominion. For Japan the prime
necessity is absolute safety for her
island empire, which is menaced by
| Russian control Of Manchuria and q
/ fortified port on the Yellow sea Sc
curity as to India is the crux of the
/ situation. 1t must of course be ade
quate. With this assurance Great
| Britain could look with complacency
upon Russian occupancy of Constan
tinople. If it be possible to safeguard
all the interests involved. such settle
ment would bring peace and honor tc
all If it is toward some such under
standing as this that King Edward Ii
working, the whole world has reason
TO wish him success 1t is a great ant
difficult mission. but 1t is not impossi
BILE of accomplishment.
| 1t is apparent that Abdul Hamit
means to carry out his Macedonian re