The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-21
Russia's Storm and Stress.

The tumultuary condition OF a1IalrS III
st. Petersburg, where the strike OF a
few thousand iron workers for better
wages and better factory arrangements
has developed into a mighty demand OF
the multitude for human rights and
popular participation in the govern
ment, is likely to be met by stern re-
preston which will deepen the unrest
The petition of the people which was
to have been presented to the car Sun
day, has been forbidden. 1t bears the
impress of Father Gopon's leadership,
and, altho suppressed, will have large
circulation. The situation both at
home and abroad for Russia is most I'M
Portable and even the masters OF Rus
STA s slippery diplomacy are at their
wit end.
Secretary Hay has secured sufficient
adhesion to his recent note to the
powers to check Russia in her decision
to secure compensation for the loss OF
Port Arthur and the Kwang- tung prov
ince in southern Manchuria by Selling
other Chinese territory. Our govern
ment, at the time Russia, acting under
the program devised by that sly servant
of the car, Paul Lessar, who has been
: pulling secret wires at Picking for some
years, was laying her hands on section
after section of Manchurian territory,
definitely announced our policy to the
powers as a purpose to Hseek solu-
ton which may bring about permanent
peace to China, preserve Chinese terri
torial administrative entity, protect
all rights guaranteed to friendly
powers by treaty and international law
and safeguard for the world the princi-
pie of equal and impartial trade with all
parts of the Chinese empire.' When
the war between Russia and Japan
broke out, our department of state pro-
cured the assent Of the powers, includ-
ing the belligerents, to the proposition,
of American origin, that the fighting
should be confined to a distinctly
marked war zone, and that the neu-
trality of Chinese territory should be
respected. The position was reiterated
that this country would oppose any
attempt from any quarter to partition
China. Our government anticipated
possible Russian treachery, and Great
Britain, Germany and France gave their
adhesion to the American policy.
Secretary Hay is now credited with
the further purpose, in view of posi-
bic negotiations for peace between Rus
STA and Japan, of getting the powers tc
agree that there shall be no grab game
for. Chinese territory as was the case al
the close of the China-Japan war ter
years ago. It would only be in accord
J. ance with orr policy Of maintaining the
territorial and administrative entity OF
China to secure the complete evacua
ton of the two southern provinces OF
Manchuria by the troops Of both bel
ligerents. Germany, however, with
Shantung province and with Kiao-char
for her seaport, and with her eye or
an extensive hinterland to be seized OF
the first opportunity, whether afforded
by Russian aggression or other cause, ha:
never been strenuous opponent Of Rus
sian aggression in Manchuria; and the
period of peace negotiations after thi:
now hesitant war will probably be {
trouble breeding time, if not as acrimoni
BUS as the fight over the Turkish spoil:
after the Russo-Turkish war of l877-7s
BY the diplomats at Berlin. .s
Russia faces a critical situation. Ye1
it must be remembered she has 400,
900 soldiers awaiting orders around
Mukden, under Kuropatkin, and .nu
merically formidable fleet Of warships
waiting for something to turn up
lettering along the east coast of Africa
Why don It these costly implements Of
war start forward and snatch victory
from the jaws Of defeat and divert Rus
sian attention from the situation a
home, now increasingly tragical9' L
there halt in Russian aggression7 L
the Colossus sick, or weary and need
ing rest9 .--,~-.~. s.~.se-.-.s