The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-16

quick relief reforms and reformers
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Tho Attempt to Drag China Into
the War.
The note despatched by the st. Peters
burg Foreign Office to our State Depart
ment alleges that China has committed
such fragrant violations OF neutrality
that henceforth Russia will hold herself
at liberty TO take such action as she may
deem needful TO protect her interests.
The specifications on which the charge
is based are frivolous, but when Russia's
motive is considered it is clear that the
charge may have grave consequences.
The only specification which has the
eemblance of gravity asserts that China
has not prevented the Use of Nliaotao
Island, which lies in the Straits Of Pc
chilli opposite Port Arthur, es a Japa-
nese naval base in tho operations against
the Russian fortress. In the first place,
Minotao Island was always regarded by
the Chinese Government as for admin
istrative purposes, an appurtenance of
the adjoining part of the Liaotung PENN
sula which was leased to Russia 1t was
SO regarded by the Russians from the
hour when they took possession of the
leased territory. 1t follows that the
Japanese had as much right TO use it
as they had to occupy Dalnv Any
thing belonging to Russia belongs to
japan, il the latter Power can get it. In
the second place, Miaotao Island would
be almost worthless az naval base.
Far from dreaming of seeking refuge
there, the commander OF n battleship
would give the island a wide berth.
The assertion put forward by the ST.
Petersburg Foreign Office would never
have been made, except on the assump-
ton that those to whom it is addressed
are ignorant of Typographical facts
Moreover, even if it could be shown that
Miaotao Island is Of as inestimable value
to maritime Power DESTROYS of main
tanning ascendency in Chinese waters az
is Malta to a Power seeking control of
the Mediterranean, il would hot lie in the
mouth of Russia to complain of its seizure
by Japan From October, 1901 until the
present way broke out in February, 1904
Russia was a notorious wrongdoer hav-
ing continued 20 occupy by force the
three Manchurian provinces in defiance Of
the solemn promise of evacuation made
TO our State Department. There was not
day in those four months when she had
any moral right to occupy an inch Of
Manchuran soil, outside OF the narrow
ribbons of land supporting the roadbeds
of her railways and the tip Of the Lao
tung peninsula, Of which she was ten
ant under a twenty-five year lease. in
view of the act of perfdy by which
Russia grabbed and kept three OF Chinas
most valuable provinces, her present
Remuneration of Japan for the alleged use
of q tiny island recalls the fable of the
wolf who complained that the water Of
a EVER had seen pcllu-od because lamb.
standing considerably d. VT. stream rad
"a ped 1t.
The other specifications are scarcely
worth naming. Th- st. Petersburg
Foreign Office asserts that certain Chi
nese mines have furnished the Japanese
with immense supplies Of the iron needed
for the manufacture of munitions of
war. Suppose they have. The citizens
or subjects of any neutral Power have as
much right to sell iron to one belligerent
as to the other It is the business
of the Russian battleships and cruis-
ers 20 intercept the shipment on
its way 20 the consignee. Why don t
thew do il? The Russian naval
officers should fight more and whine
less. OF the same irrelevant tenor
is the accusation that there has been
extensive contraband commerce between
Chefoo and Dalny The charge is ludi-
crous. in view of the fact that through
out the siege OF Port Arthur Russian
agents at Cbefoo We're bribing Chinese
iunks to eyade the blockade Of their
naval fortress Moreover, until very
lately, when Japan notified the Pekin
Government that she would no longer
tolerate such a gross breach of interna-
tonal law, the Russians were allowed to
maintain at Chefoo a wireless telegraph
station. As for the assertion that Chi
nese soldiers under japanese officers are
committing depredations on the Man
churian branches Of the Siberian rail-
road, it is only necessary to say that,
from the beginning Of the war the Rus
slams have tried TO enlist the rungchuses,
or Manohurian bandits, in their favor.
and succeeded to a certain extent, until
the battle Of Iiaoyang convinced the
onlookers that the Russians were not
going 10 be successful.
The note addressed 70 our State De-