The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-09-03
EUROPE ESCAPES A CRISIS.
DANGER or A GENERAL CONFLICT
HAD GROWN ACUTE.

Sudden Nkrce"ons =" sV ~
mouth Reiievea the situation-New
Ans,o.Japanese Alliance Another
t.uarartee-Russi to Delay Reforms.
sp,ctoI Gable Despatch 10 TEE sUr.
LONDON Sept. 2.--Europs scarcely real
Ices vet the inestimable blessing OF unex-
,oc,ed peace. The sudden end OF the
Gar ia almost az great a boon TO Western
l,,rope as to tho combatants thense Ives,
g., Tho danger Of general conflict has been
,teadily growing for the last ten months.
How serious that peril had really become
the world at large has little idea, but IN
france and England especially the I'M
rendine sword has been watched with keen
apprehension.
There are some who still fear that the
,emp,ation 10 take advantage Of oppor-
entities for ACKNOWLEDGMENT which are not
lively to recrir soon will lead to rash adj
yent,,res in certain quarters. A majority
~ observers, however. believe that peace
has come in timo to avert any general
European cataclysm.
The opinion grows stronger also that the
,tstesmanlike wisdom OF Japan's renuncia-
ton overshadows it's magnanimity. This
IMPRESSION Ia confirmed by the fact that
japan has insured the permanency ofpesce
in another way. Europe did not believe
that the Japanese would abandon the do
mand for indemnity, chiefly because, a.
her statesmen explained, 1t would leave
Russia sufficiently strong financially TO
nrepare for an early renewal OF the con-
fict.
This danger has been eflectually removed
by the terms Of the new Anglo-Japanese
alliance, the signing Of which was first an
no,nced In these dispatches. This treaty
1 IA full defensive agreement, and Russian
attack on Japan would invoke the full power
Of the British Empire against aggression
from the outside. The world will find m
this instrument an exemplifcation OF what
must in the future DO the best security
arainst war, namely, militant peace COM
pscts among tha great Powers.
Intere sting information In regard to the
effects of peace upon tho two belligerents
q already forthcoming. To-day's Outlook
publishes an important article on this topic
by Count Okuma. formerly Premier Of Japan.
Ia Count Olrlma's opinion economic Japan
has suffered far more by the indirect loss
Of productive power during the war than
by tho direct expenditure Of treasure.
he looks forward to making good those
Losses by developing agriculture. industrial
and mining enterprises in The regions where
The war has been fought and had to be
fought In order 70 secure for Japan . legiti-
mate field for economic expansion on tho
mainland.
After enumersting some UNDERTAKINGS
"a which his countrymsn should apply
themselves Count 0kuins continuss'
!. .ntheesasd Aelsef undsFtakings azO abOve
the strength of individual or syndicates'
capital 1t will perhape remain for the State
to step In. We have seen tho example Of
such national Intervention already Ia the
case Of the Seoul-wiju railway. The
natural extension Of this track Will lead
across Manchuria and link up with whole
network OF Chinese and Siberian lines.
Above all however, 1t will be essential to
preserve tho ful!es. freedom q enterprise.
III these are great and desirable enter
prises, to execute which may prove beyond
our present capacity. let US call In English
men and Americans as partners In the
work. We must confidently impress upon
oil Japanese the importance Of maintaining
the best relations with the Manchurian
natives and with the Chinese Of other prov
inces for the purpose OF the common work OF
progress and development. Under oil clr-
cumstances, however, the principle OF the
open door must be guaranteed. New &C.
QUESTIONS Of territory must not be thought
Of and Manchuria must be restored to China
That restoration naturally can only take
place when peace has been completely
achieved and when We have pulled up the
roots of all possible future trouble.
For the purpose Of guaranteeing good
administration and maintaining order 1t
may be advisable to keep snan force
in readiness. Who knows indeed whether
the policy of the open door in ManchuriA
may not ultimately prove profitable to Rus
ea herself and of assistance in the de-
velopment Of Siberia?
There are many in Japan who believe
that nothing but territorial conquest can
bring us solid advantage. That is not
the case now that the influence Of japan
has acquired an overshadowing prepOn-
derance in Corea and Manchuria. In any
event Japan has made q giant stride from
an island to a continent and planted there
9 steady foot. We stand on the threshold
of unprecedented expansion In a momen-
tous field Of enterprise, and before the dawn
ing Of one OF those eras which shape tho
fate OF people,
In sharp contrast to this statesmanlike
|utterance Of one of Japan's greatest leaders
is the news Of the effect Of peace on the
existing regime in Russia. The st. Peters
burg correspondent Of THE Sun telegraphs
that the Moscow semstvo has alrcadylearned
that tho Govern nnent has decided to post
pone the Inauguration Of a national assem-
bly, for at least year, sowing to practical
difficuties.' These reports began to cir
culate as soon as the conclusion OF peace
was known. The various Ministers refused
10 give any information on tho subject,
but there are abundant indications that they
will now fight vigorously to reduce the pow
era Of the assembly to q minimum. 1t
may be said at once that the effect OF this
Feactionary revival will be TO intensity In
stead Of to suppress the reform agitation.
and tend to precipitute crisis which will
,srcely fail to take the form OF violence
many parts Of the Empire.
On the other hand IL Is remarked that the
liberty Of the press was never 30 unrestricted
IN Russia "a during the pre,ent week in the