Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-05-02
WAR DURING THE WEEK.
Grave International Complications TO,
a Time Threatened.


For the first time since the Russo-
japanese war began the possibility of
grave complications over the neutral
ity question doomed large on the inter-
national horizon. Japan asked of
France an explanation of the prolong-
ed stay of the Russian fleet at KAN
ranh bay. The French foreign minis
Ter, in reply, is reported to have as
sured Japan that France had not VIC
lated the laws of neutrality; that the
RUSSIAN fleet at most had made only
a brief sojourn at Kamranh bay. ST.
petersburg says that Admiral Rojest-
vensy's instructions were to respect
French neutrality and that he has
been ordered to leave French terrific
rial waters.
hamranh bay is a large, sheltered
harbor on the east coast of French
lndo-China, some 200 miles north of
Saigon. The bay is triangular in
shape, its greatest length being 1915
miles. and its greatest width 10 miles.
1t has, no cable communication with
the rest of the world. 1t is. in fact. an
ideal harbor for Russia's purposes.
According to the best information at
hand Vice Admiral Roiestvensky's
fleet anchored in Kamranh bay. and
If circumstantial statements cabled
from Saigon are correct, the Russian
fleet numbering 80 vessels. was re-
coaled and reproviSioned. French and
German steamers left Saigon almost
daily with supplies intended for the
feet.
All this, if true, constitutes a grave
breach of neutrality, as Japan under
stands it and as the world under
stands it. The anger of the Japanese
people is natural, and if France main
cams her attitude of benevolent COM
placency and continues to permit Rus
STA to make war on Japan from
French harbors, the Toxic government
is extremely likely to precipitate a
crisis which will bring the world face
to face with the danger of an inter
national war, the consequences of
which cannot even be estimated.
Happily, says the Chicago Tribune.
a way out of the crisis lies through the
sterling common sense of the French
and Japanese people The government
of Japan is standing up for its rights.
but is not going out of its way need
'essly to embroil itself with great
European power at moment when
it is bending every energy and every
resource to whip that powers ally. And
the French people do not want war
with Japan. The French people and
the French press are almost as angry
at Russia's violation of French neu-
trality as are the people and press of
Japan.
1t is significant that the English
press is silent in the presence of this
new crises arising out of the far east
ern situation. Great Britain is the
ally of Japan and the quasi ally of
France. BY the terms of her treaty
with Japan--a treaty which Englands
statesmen of all parties uphold as
binding upon English honor-Great
Britain will be compelled to go to
Japan's aid if the latter is attacked
by two powers. Any view of the
present crisis that considers Englands
probable or possible attitude toward
France is purely speculative. But it
is safe to predict that England will
exert every influence at her command
to induce France to yield exact jus
tice to Japan. Any other belief is too
incredible to contemplate.