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

ship for China. Indications are that China
will be able to secure the Russian consent
of the retransfer OF Manchuria, provided
she will pay large sum OF money Tor II.
Russia has been In possession of Manchuria
for a number of years. and 1t Will be
urged that she has spent great dea! upon
1t in the discharge of her civilizing mission.
M. Witte we'll knows how to picture and
paint in glowing colOrs the work OF Rus
sia in the far east. He will insist upon
showing how she has made railways. roads
and bridges; how she has built towns and
wharves and factories and barracks: how,
In fact she has been compelled to do the
police work OF the world for thousand
miles along her southern border. The Chi
nese, 1t will be intimated cannot be SO
unreasonable as to suppose that they Will
get free gift Of all these costly improve
ments Not only must Russia be recouped
for her lavish expenditure on them. but
she will have to be paid for her trouble
and outlay In performing the manifold ad-
ministrative duties which she has per-
formed for China during her prolonged oc-
cupation OF the province. Manchuria. IN
fact, will be represented to China as sub
ject to a first charge for the sum claimed
by Russia, and she will be told that on
payment thereof to Japan the province will
be restored to her. She will, Of course,
have to raise the money. but 1t Is said
Russia may be willing to assist her In this.
Russia could not, of course, lend the money.
but she could gladly offer Picking the help
of her guarantee. A Russian guarantee has
already figured in earlier Chinese loans,
and the Chinese, who distrust Japan, may
be inclined to lean on Russia for support
In this matter. Could they be induced to
accept 1t the triumph of Russian fiscal
diplomacy would be complete. China will
have supplied the war indemnity. which, 1t
is expected. Russia will have to pay Japan
1t was for these reasons. 1t Is believed,
that M. Witte visited Paris and consulted
with NJ. Rouvier. The chief custom, 1t
would appear in connection with this tangle
Of finance and politics, Is whether Japan
can be induced to accept it. For Japan
must be consulted. and there Is no data to
show that her statesmen are the last people
in the world to sacrifice the abiding inter-
ests of their country to supposed advan-
tages of financial or diplomatic kind.
Commenting upon this particular PROPOSE
ton. member of the Japanese legation
here. whose name for obvious reasons cam
not be given in an interview. said:
How can the objects of M. Whites mis-
sion be more completely or more brilliantly
attained than by making it at the cost Of
somebody else? Her susceptibilities would
be spared as we'll as her pocket could she
contrive to make China pay it for her to
Japan. Her face would be saved. and If
the business were adroitly managed she
might actually obtain political advantages
by 1t which would admit in skilled hands
of indefinite development hereafter. Such
a scheme undoubtedly presents attractions
to the Russian Imagination, and M. White,
with his vast experience in the art Of COM
bining wide political designs with great
financial operations Is the very man to be
chosen to formulate and to press it.