Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26

TRYING TO ffAKH RUSSIA RE
sPECT HER PLEDGES.
Contest Over the Control of Korea
Fruits of Struggle With China Lost
An Old Enmity.
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star and
l. Chicago Record Herald.
TOKYO July 20, 1904.
The primary fundamental purpose Of the
| war in Manchuria Is to compel Russia to
keep her promises. That task should have
been undertaken by the other European
| powers, but some of them are Indifferent.
| England is not in a condition to attempt
| 1t and France and Germany have solid,
selfish reasons for not interfering with
Russia's plans and for desiring Russian
| success in robbing China Of one of Its
| largest and most important provinces. The
| United States exercised its influence up to
| the limits of diplomacy in trying to per-
suade the car to do as he had agreed, but
| President Roosevelt and Secretary Hay did
not feel justified In using force. Thus it
was left for Japan, the STRIPPING of nations,
whose interests in all that concerns China
are too vital to be ignored, and she came
out as bravely and as confidently as did
David against Goliath on the plains Of
Judea.
belt of territory stretching entirely across
the northern part of the continent Of Asia,
varying from 100 to 1000 miles wide, and
extending from the northern boundaries Of
eternal ice fields of the Polar sea- Checked
again and again by the European powers
in her efforts to secure port upon the
Mediterranean Russia undertook to extend
her commerce in Asia. and during the last
twenty years has been, building railway
across the entire continent, with its eastern
terminus at VIadivostok, the southernmost
port of Siberia, lying just north Of the
boundary of Korea. The chief object Of
this railway, which has cost the govern
ment hundreds of millions Of dollars, is to
develop the pastoral, agricultural, forestal
and mineral resources of Siberia, which are
vast and valuable.
The distance from what may be termed
the base of supplies in Russia being more
than 5000 miles, the control Of the mar
kets of China and other large consumers
in the east is imperative to the success OF
the enterprise and the prosperity Of Rus
sian colonies in Asia. The wheat and cat
tie of Siberian plains can feed millions of
Chinese, who are rapidly acquiring a
taste for mutton beef and -four
Russia Aims at Fusan.
But it is also imperative for Russia to
have an additional terminus for her rail-
road in warmer waters and nearer the
Chinese market. because the harbor Of
Vladivostok is frozen up for five months
in the year. Furthermore, all commerce
between Vladivostok and China must be
carried on through narrow channel be-
tween the SOUTHERN extremity of Korea
and the~shores of JaFan, which is only
102 miles wide. Almost midway in this
channel lie two Islands, Tsushimia and
Xxi, belonging to the Japanese empire and
lying fifty-six miles from the shore Of
Japan. They We're evidently intended by
nature to command the traffic of that mar
row passage, and having exceptionally
good harbOrS, furnish Ia NJ aImost nerfact
base for naval operaEe6s. In other words.
access to the only 1Sussian harbor unon
the Pacific and the only, terminus of the
great Siberian railway is dependent upon
the good will of Japan. and for the last
twenty years Russia has been engaged in
diplomatic intrigues in Korea and China
to change this situation. - .-,-
The original plan of the Russians was to
nu1ld branch of the Siberian railway
southwark from Harbin through the
peninsula of Korea to the port Of Fusan,
winch commands the passage I have lust
described, and Russia proposed to fortify
tnat port and make. herself impregnabIe
there. That would have given her equal
control over the sea passage and a
strongly fortified post lying directly
across from Shimonosake and Moji eight
hours sail from the entrance to the IA
nous inland sea
Japan naturally objected. and in the
diplomatic intrigues with the government
% horea proved superior to Russia, which
is not strange. considering the fact that
the two people belong to the same race
nave the same religion, have been init
mately associated for ages and have MANY
otner interests in common. The long dip
iomatlc struggle was intensely interest
ing and often dramatic, and there wero
several exciting episodes including the
assassination of the Empress of Korea
through the lnstrumentality of the min
ister OF Japan because her Influence had
Deen secured for Russia through her q -
Iectlon Tor Mrs. Waeber wife of the Rms.
sian minister at Seoul
Japan Gives Up Port Arthur.
II is too long a story to be told here. but
war between China and Japan was pro-
'oheu py the efforts of the latter govern
nieht 10 control Korea. and in 1895 japan
o eeiialueo' among other things as the price
VI peace the cession of the Liao-tung
peninsula; the tip end of Manchuria. m
o!udIns the naturally fortified promontory
OF Port Arthur which commands the an.
Trance 10 the Gulf Of Pechii. upon which
lien Tsin. Picking and other important
"a on, ~. cities are situated. China consent
Gu 10 the transfer of this territory, but Rus
sia lnterfered. and, with the support of
1eImany and France, compelled Japan to
restore IL on the pretext that the peace of
the world and the equal rights of all ma
tons In China prohibited 80 important a
strategical point to be controlled by sin
gle nation. Thus. with the aid of Germany
ana france. Russia compelled Japan 10
eVacuate Port Arthur and relinQuish her
claims to the Liao-tung peninsula japan
exhausted by her struggle with China had
no choice but to submit. The feeling of her
oN' hiiicHt anu ner people may De mag
lhed When Russia stepped in Immediately
upon her withdrawal and took possession
OF the territory she had gracefully evac-
uated. ana planted guns upon the fortifica-
lions she had erected. >.
Ihen Russia demandHd of China a right
OF way Tor a railroad across Manchuria and
the practical permanent possession of Port
arthur as reward for paving forced Japan
out. BY way of Saying the situation i'll
some measure. Japan demanded guar
antee that neither Port Arthur nor any
other portion of Manchuria should ever be
ceded or leased to or occupied by any for
eign power France and Germany notified
Japan that if she pressed such demand
| It would meet with their displeasure. and
Count Cassini. noW. AMBASSADOR to Wash
ington. who was Then representing Russia
at Peking, succeeded Understanding and In
timidating China into secret treaty In
which Russia waa granted permission to
| occupy the entire<terr3cbry of Manchuria
| including that front which Japan had been
| elected. not only With a railway, but with
| troops and Notifications. In other words
Russia secured by intrigue much more than
Japan had ever d5mandkd as the right OF
| conquest.
Japan Prepares for War.
Japan was unjustiy deprived of rights
| fairly acquired and conceded by China. and
| she would not have submitted but for the
I atfitn6a n nd r. 10th a.