Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13

evasive response but not sufficient per-
haps. to make It definite. Arrived back in
Berlin the Emperor William ordered a fleet
to kiao-Chaou.
AT a meeting OF the council of minis
tiers at st. Petersburg. November, 1897 four
members were present, the council being
presided over by the Emperor Nicholas. M.
Mouravief. minister Of foreign affairs. de-
clared that since Germany had seized kiao-
Chaou Russia should do likewise at Talien-
Wan and Port Arthur. Gen. Vannofsky
minister of war, supported Mouravief. Adj
mral Tyrtof. minister OF marine. opposed IL
on the ground that Port Arthur was bad
port and that Masampo was preferable M
de White replied. invoking the treaty re-
Gently concluded between Russia and China.
He recalled that 1t was to facilitate the ex-
ecution of the treaty that China had au-
thortzed the construction OF the railway
from Vladvostok through Manchuria.
Notwithstanding his objection. the coun-
sci Of Nj. Mouravief was taken. a feet was
sent to Port Arthur under the pretext or
protecting that port. protection that was
not asked nor required Finally in 1893 n
fleet sailed from viadivostok and landed
troops at Port Arthur. A treaty executed
with Ii Hung Chang. dated March Is. 1885,
regulated the accomplished fact.
"China felt sore at what had happened.
and Japan likewise. Japan. who. In the
China nese territory had been
Offended. obliged to surrender her con-
quests of 1894. and which
were now taken over by the champion OF
that entity a principle which she had for
muated herself.
Port Arthur taken the construction of
railway connecting with the Trans-Siberian
followed. and 1t Is probable that the work
on that road in 1899 precipitated the rising
Of the Boxers.
subsequently charter company was
organized at the court in the encourage Oh
the emperor for the purpose OF exploiting
the new territories placed under Russian
influence. The society was constituted
under the auspices OF the Grand Duke
Alexis Michaelovitch and Count Woronzon
DochIoff.
After the Boxer rebellion the idea was
taken up by an association entitled Tovart-
chestvo. On the list were the Adjutant
General HesSe. governor OF the Imperial
palace. and grand master OF ceremonies. NJ
Abasa, secretary OF the emperor for affairs
in the extreme orient: Count Ignatieff, mas
ter of the council: Count Hendrikof grand
ecuyer Of the empress. formerly officer of
the Chevalier Guards. Prince Youssoupof
and Colonel Won Larske
III Admiral Alexieff failed to understand
the character of that private company
Japan certainly did not, and interpreted it
plan to shut her up In her own islands.
The viceroy owed his elevation to the COM
pany known as the company OF pacific PEN
etraton' of Korea. M. de White was rel
dent of the committee Of ministers.
After the defeat and disgrace of the
only man capable of holding his own
against the combination 1t was but natural
as did the Beers in South Africa, the ag-
gression which was being prepared"
In 1908 Japan replaced Russia as the de-
fender of China. A singular change of
Russias policy. which was
hao1cal not the result of a premdi-
Reversal tated design. but due to the
accident Of the visit Of the
Emperor Of Germany. and. more than all.
to the enterprise on the Yalu. an affair Of
private interests in which the good faith
Of the car was surprised. M. de White. in
a memoir in 1901 on the institution of the
provincial assembly. said:
THE development of social powers, It's
full and many-sided development, Is not
only not opposed to the principles of abso-
lutte monarchy. but. on the contrary. gives
to the latter life and strength whilst par
ticipating In the development of social, in
dependence. whilst. so to speak. observing
the social pulse, the government will not
fall into dependence on society. but re-
main judicious power. always conscious
OF its aims and OF the means for their at
tainment always knowing whittier 1t tends
or leads"
1t is not difficult to trace the origin of
uc Wllte pOItlCdl ldltn, winch, De-
sides being handed down from the distin-
guished historian Guizot, to whom his
family is allied. is held by many partisans
of monarchy, on the principle that we are
best governed by the two extremes Of So
ciety-the patrician and the plebian. 1t will
be interesting to learn from NJ. de White
in view Of the existence In monarchy and
democracy alike. of the tchinovnick and the
grafter. what method he proposes. II any,
for their elimina ton.
Among the subjects of speculation which
attaches Itself manlfestly to the present
RuSso-Japanese conflict is
'efanys what part does Germany pro-
Interest. pose to play in the discussion
Of the question of peace be-
fore the congress at Portsmouth? We have
not been told SO. but 1t would seem nat
ural that the kaiser who for fact in
duced the car to take Port Arthur, would
be solicitous to his own situation II left
alone and face to face with Japan at Kiao-
Chaou.
A note in the Daily Consular and Trade
Reports for August 81 of the Department
of Commerce and Labor, entitled GERMANY
In China" is most significant as showing
the value of German interests in China
China inevitably being the goal of Japaa's
ambitions. The note Is as follows:
German mercantile ability Is demon
trade and enterprises in the Celestial en-
pire within the last few years. German
trade grows more rapidly there than that
of any other country. Germany's imports
into Wankan aggregated $685.. 600 She has
Invested In the coal mines of Ping-Taing
nearly 100000: in Chinese cotton mills,
8. 800, 600; in silk factories $476O0O: in grain
mills. 100000: Shanghai gas works. ST.
600; in wharfs, docks and lighters, 81 ,90OO,-
The questions of German interests In
China and the reestablishment-evolutio of
Russia will prove forcible arguments for
NJ. White, who may convince his rivals in
the peace congress at Portsmouth that
peace-permanent peace-is better secured
without indemnity and without -cession of
territory. Bismark long ago confessed The
error of exacting the cesson of Alsace-Lor-
raine and thus precipitating a question
which isolates Germany today and is a
perpetual menace to the peace of Europe
CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.
UNCLE RUSSELL.