The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-20
RUSSIA'S GAME IS
TO DESPOIL CHINA
Japan Gets Liao-tung Peninsula
if Russia Is Given Strip
Across Gulf.
CZAR WOULD TEMPT
MIKADO WITH PLAN
Its Acceptance Would Mean De-
fensive Alliance Between
Forces Now at War.
New York Sun Special Service,

New York Sun Special Service.
Chicago, Jan. 20.-Moves Of the high
est Importance have been made in the
game Of diplomacy relating to China,
the last few days-moves which promise
in their working out to write some OF
the most momentous pages in the his
tory of the twentieth century; says Wal
ter Wellman, in Washington dispatch
to the Record Herald. The future OF
the Chinese empire, the fate of the Rus
sian advance to the Pacific, the settle
ment of the present war between Russia
and Japan and the political and COM
1nercial relations of all the great powers
to the vast disputed area in the far east
are involved.
The chief centers of this diplomatic
game are Washington and St. Peters
burg. The other capitals are for the
time being mere followers of the Rus
sian and American leaders. The ques-
ton of questions as to the outcome of
the play is this:
Will Japan in the end side with Rus
STA in a defensive alliance, otherwise a
division of the spoils, or will Japan re-
main firm in her actual alliance with
Great Britain and her moral alliance
with the United States in resistance to
Russian encroachments upon Chinese
territorys
Russia's Secret Is Out.
The secret Of Russia g recent accusa-
ton against China g neutrality is out
at last. The Russian scheme was to
make that claim the basis of a settle
ment of the war by forming a defensive
tain control Of Korea and of part of
Marchuria, including Port Arthur (the
for ess to be dismantled), and Russia
to hold the upper part of Manchuria
with an outlet for her railroad to port
on the western side Of the gulf of Lao,
fl,o - -
There is information of the best
character that If Japan is willing to
make peace on some such terms as
these, Russia is prepared to enter ne
gotiations. The meaning of such a set
Element, Of course, would be that Rus
STA recognized the inevitable as to
Korea and the -tung< peninsula
recognized that Japan was there to stay
and that Russia proposed simply to
move over to the western side of the
gulf and intrench herself anew
Japan Not Likely to Consent.
Tt is not believed here that Japan
will assent to any such parceling out OF
Chinese territory as the price Of peace
But thruout the diplomatic world there
are various opinions On this score, ano
in some quarters it is feared that Toxic
weary of war and fearful of financia
drain, may consent to the bargain.
Secretary Hays Move.
But at this iuncture enters perhap!
the most important play of all-the
move made by John Hay to rally once
more the great powers in defense Of tn.
territorial integrity Of China.
Mr.. Hay is not trying, per Sc, tt
block Russia s efforts to arrive at set
Element with Japan, but he is endeavor
ing, with his usu al foresight and skill
to veto the Russian plan to make peac,
at the expense Of China by the appro
priation Of another slice of Chimes
territory.
China's Integrity Guaranteed.
Mr.. Hays efforts In this direction
have been rewarded with such success
that it may now be said without re
serve that the great powers, excepting
of course, Russia and Japan, have bee
ranged under American leadership il
what amounts to an international guar
antee Of the integrity Of China. Henc
the Russian game to make China tn
pawn of peace is blocked, barring tn
unlooked-for event that Japan throw
over her western sympathizers an
joins hands with her present enemy
seeking an alliance and division O
the spoils. 'e "a -