The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-11
WHY JAPAN BEGAN WAR.


over Korea. 1t developed the country
and it is a natural field for commercial
enterprise and indispensable source OF
food supply. Japan virtually controls
all Korean shipping trade, its merchants
control the traffic in imports and exports,
and Japan capital and labor are building
due to propinquity and to natural condi-
items, chief among which, next to near
ness, is that the Koreans and japanese
speak the same language. Added to
these things, in 1898 Japan guaranteed 60
Korea that 'the domestic affairs If
Korea should remain unaffected by for
eign interference and that Russia should
not NEEDLE with the progress of CONNER
cial and industrial relations between Ia,
pan and Korea" Recently Russia has
established, or attempted to establish, a
fortified trading post in Northern
Korea. Thereupon Japan considered-and
no doubt rightly-that Russia had broken
its 1898 pledge, and was trying to get
foothold in Korea and supplant Japan's>
power in that country.
against Russia. Manchuria Is regarded
by Japan as an integral parh OF the
Chinese Empire and other countries, also
so regard it, And yet for three years
Russia has continued to occupy it, anc
japan believes that Russia intends TO
annex Manchuria or to become so power
ful there that it cannot be dislodged. At
this time Russia maintains in Man ,huria
37S 900 soldiers. The presence OF so large
an army by the Russians in Chinese
proyince is regarded as a declaration that
Manchuria belongs in everything except
name to Russia and not to China. it does
mere than that, it menaces the whole
OF North China and puts that country
at the mercy of Russia. The japanese
believe that Russia keeps that largt
army in Manchuria not only for the pu'
pose of dominating Manchuria and North
China, but to be ready to march uron
Picking whenever the occasion seemed OPP
perfume successfully to attack that Chin
csc city. Japan thinks that Russia's
nlassing these troops in Manchuria in the
Boxer uprising, ostensibly to protect ITS
CARRYING out of it's ultimate design OF
grabbing part of China and driving Japan
out OF Korea, events which would de-
stroy the progress and prosperity of the
island kingdom
With such convictions as to Russia's
intentions, Japan demanded writt-n
from Manchuria and live up to its treaty
that binds Russia to respect the ''intets-
rity of the Chinese empire and 10 make
no attempt to establish fortified trading
posts in Korea.
Russia agreed or rather in diplomatic
language intimated that it would he
titled trading posts in Korea il Japan
would recognize Russia as the paramount
power in Manchuria. Russia said III SUI
stance "You shall have Korea if ycu
will recognize Russia's supremacy in
Manchuria." But Japan declined to make
the trade, maintaining that what power
pendent upon standing army TO uphold,
while Russias stay in Manchuria is co1-
tinued only by a very large standing
army. 1t says it needs no help 20 hold
its supremacy in Korea, and that Rus
si;. is honorably bound by treaty to
respect ''the integrity of the Chinese ON
pire" which it is breaking by nassing
It's army in Manchuria. In the negotia-
tons, Russia instead OF directly answer
ing Japan's demand, was proposing this
com promise and that compromise, never
actually declining, but never Indicating
that it would meet what JAPAN declared
must be done unless it WAS ready for
war. Russia wished to postpone final
answer as long as possible. 1t was not |
ready for war, while Japan was prepared
before it issued its ultimatum. The par
lcying and counter propositions Of Rus
STA convinced Japan that Russia would
bind itself to nothing that lesscned its
mold in Mancnuria and its strong position
to strike Korea and China. Japan be-
lieves that Russia intends TO axcrt SIT
premacy in all Northern Asia and that
no truce it will make will cause it TO
give up it's determination to be master
eff Manchuria now, and Ultimately of Ko-
roa. and to make China pay it obe'sance.
And it is firmly convinced that if it would
rot itself be later confined to its island
territory and then, perhaps, forced TO
fight for that after Russia has obtained