The sun., 1905-12-31


Of Corea illusory, 1t is we'll known that
the Mikado's Government submitted to
fOrce mdjeure. No other decision was
physically possible at that juncture' In
1895 the Japanese regular army only num-
bered $1,000 men, and the navy, comprising
not a single battleship was In no condition
to confront a European fleet. But, while
yielding TO irresistible pressure, the Japa'
nese people set on foot In 1894 great scheme
OF naval and military reorganization,
which aimed at nothing less than the even
tual resumption by force Of arms OF the
position on the mainland which the Island
Empire had fairly won from China by
right OF conquest. Meanwhile Russie,
disregarding the reasons she had given
for ousting Japan from the Liaotung penin-
sula, established herself in the vacant place,
and began the course OF aggression which
eliminated in the recent war
The author reviews In the briefest outline
the history of Russia s proceedings In Man
churia After securing from China lease
Of Port Arthur and Talienwan, the st.
Petersburg Government obtained from
China authority to carry the Manchurian
railway down to the naval fortress. BY
had been placed in Port Arthre and the
railway was under military occupation
Against these encroachments no protest
was made at the time by Japan, which was
silently working out her destiny by addlng
battleshipe and armored cruisers to her
navy and by signally increasing and improv-
ing her active army. The next act OF
obvious interference with japanese interests
was the procurement by Russian subjects
from the Corean Government of mining and
lumber concessions south of the Yalu River
which we're invested with considerable i'm
portance, owing to the exalted rank OF the
individuals at st. Petersburg interested
financially in them. The Russians presently
occupied Yongampo, erected telegraphs
and even began the construction OF rail-
ways and fortiflcations.
These proceedings provoked energetic
remonstrance on the part OF Japan. Az
the end of 1901 the Marquis Ito undertook
confidential mission to st. Petersburg
and there is no doubt that a serious, though
unsuccessful, effort was made at that time
by japan to reconcile the conflicting in
terests Of the two Powers. There followed
early in 1902, the Anglo-Japanese compact
o,
under which Russia agreed to evacuate
Chinese territory by degrees at certain fixed
dates. Had the terms of this convention
been carried out Russia would have avoided
her recent humiliation. As matter OF
fact, when the first date agreed upon, April 3,
1903, arrived there was no sign that Russia
intended to keep faith and withdraw as
she had promised from Manchuria. That
on the contrary, she had determined to
annex the three Manchurian provinces was
indicated by the creation of Special I'M
peral Leutenancy of the Far East, to which
post Admiral Ale1ieff was appointed.
Alarmed by this proof Of Russia S inten-
tions, the japanese Government on August
l2, 1908, submitted a basis OF agreement
through it's representative at st Petersburg.
Not until October were any serious counter
proposals made by Russia. Even at this
stage an agreement appeared hopeless.
Russia declined to pledge herself respect
ing the sovereignty or the territorial in
tegrity of China, or respecting equality Of
treatment of the commerce of all nations.
She requested Japan to declare Manchuria
and its littoral outside her sphere OF in
fuence, while at the same time submitting
to many restrictions upon her freedom
of action in Corea. Russia also suggested
the establishment Of a neutral zone in
Corea north of the thirty-ninth parallel.
Japan naturally rejected these Russian
proposals, and, on October 80, 1903, pre-
sented definite amendments The st.
Petersburg Government delayed until De-
cember II before giving its reply, which was
utterly unacceptable. Thereupon Japan re-
uuested Russia to reconsider its position,
but the latter Powers reply was not re-
ceived until January 0, 1904, and then was
found to reiterate the inadmissible demands
that Japan should consent to the establish
ment of a neutral zone in Corea and should
recognize Manchuria as outside her sphere
OF influence Russia also declined in this
State paper to uphold the territorial integ-
rity of China so far as Manohuria was con-
oerned Japan, therefore, renewed, on
January l3, her request that the Russian
Government would reconsider the question
afresh, and pressed for an early answer.
The days wore on, however, and no reply
came, while public opinion in Japan was be-
coming dangerously excited. 1t was known
at Toxic that the Russian Government had
not only been contemptuously dilatory in
answering Japanese communications, but
had made use of the delay in Fastening
warlike preparations. AS the time had drawn
near for the promised evacuation of Man
churia additional war vessels had been
sent out, and upon the date at which the
evacuation was due Russia had either on
the spot or en- route fifty-nine ships, with
$50 guns and 900 men.
These figures include Wirenius's squadron
which was surprised by the outbreak OF
hostilities and compelled to put back. The
Russian army in Manchuria had also been
reinforced, and by February, 1904, amounted
to AZ, 900 men, while plans were in progress
for the despatch of 100000 more in case of
need. We observe, lastly, that toward the
end Of January, 1904, Russian troops were
sent from Port Arthur to the Yalu River,
and on February the Russian squadron
at Port Arthur put to sea at full strength.
Under these circumstances an important
council was held at Toxic on February g.,
in the presence OF the Mikado. After
sitting for seven hours the council decided
to order Mr.. Kurino, the Japanese Minister
at st. Petersburg, to suspend relations
and return home. On February 8 the
Minister had his final audience with the
Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs and
communicated his Government announce