The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-26
The Meeting Of the Emperors.

| lHS HeeVluk VI thC CLAPchoA1s
OF course nobody knows, though
everybody in diplomatic circles Is try
ing to guess, what was said at the inter-
views of the Car and the Kaiser, which
took place on their respective yachts.
In the absence Of explicit information,
however, we can make with confidence
certain assumptions, negative and posi-
tive, based on our knowledge Of the Ger
man Emperor's interests and of the Rus
sian sovereign's character.
1t is not for the interest Of Germany
that Russia should renounce definitely
the hope Of securing an ice free port on
the Pacific, and Of exercising great II
not preponderant influence at Pekin.
The Emperor WILLIAM, who is RESPONSE
BILE for the present war in the Far East,
must desire either to see it continued
OF else ended upon terms that will per-
nit a resumption OF Russia's plans OF
aggression at a more propitious con-
juncture. We say that the Emperor
WILLIAM Is responsible for the present
war, because 1t was Germanys seizure
OF the Chinese harbor Of kiaochau
which irnpelled Russia to secure consid-
erably later lease Of Port Arthur and
Talienwan. Russia's acquisition Of the
tip Of the Eaotung peninsula naturally
made her DESTROYS Of connecting that
locality with the Trans-Siberian Railway
by means Of branch running through
Manchuria. The necessity Of protecting
hor Morph,,rion ro;l1uov tad har
to occupy Manchuria in force at the
time Of the Boxer outrages and made
her reluctant to evacuate that region.
Had not, finally, the Russians been
planted on the Manchurian bank Of the
Yalu, they would not have been tempted
to encroach upon the forests Of valuable
timber on the Corean side Of that river.
1t was the encroachment on Corean
territory that drove Japan to war, for
it is known that as late as July. 1908,
Japan was willing that Russia should
dominate Manchuria, provided Corea
should be recognized as belonging ex-
clusively within Japan's sphere Of in
fuence. Thus we see that all the events
which have taken place in the Far East
during the last ten years are traceable
to the ultimatum by which Germany,
France and Russia forced Japan to
give up the Liaotung peninsula and
to the German seizure Of Chinese soil
which promptly followed.
For more than one reason the German
Emperor must wish Russia to remain
a great military power in the Far East.
Should she withdraw permanently be-
fore Japan, Germany's tenure Of Kiao-
chau is likely to be brief and the dreamed
Of absorption of the great province Of
Shantung will be, Of course, imprac-
ticable. This is not all, however, or
the worst. II Russia consents to retire
from the Pacific she may seek an outlet
to the sea on the Persian Gulf, and thus
block Germanys hope Of securing ulti-
mately Mesopotamia and Babylonia by
means Of her Euphrates Valley rail-
way. Then, again, the larger the army
that Russia should feel herself con-
strained to maintain at the further
end Of Asia, the smaller would be her
force disposable for attack on Germany's
eastern frontier. It being, therefore,
plainly for the interest of Germany
that Russia should cling to a foothold
on the Pacific, we may take for granted
that the German Emperor advised the
Gear not to consent to any conditions
of peace that involved the surrender of
Vladivostok.
1t is also, as we have formerly said,
highly improbable that the German
Emperor desires to see representa-
tive institutions established in Russia,
which alone Of the great European Powers
has retained an autocratio system
and thus by precept and example
has kept alive the absolutist spirit. 1t
would be impossible for the HoHEN-
zoLLERNs any longer to repudiate the
principle OF Ministerial accountable
ity to the peoples representatives II
that principle should be recognized
by the RoMANoFFs. While, therefore,
WILLIAM II. may advise the restoration
to the provincial and district zemstvos
and to the dumas, or municipal coun-
ellis, OF all the powers originally vested
in them by ALEXANDER H., he will be
moved by his own interests to counsel
the Car to stop short with that oonces-
sion and not take the irrevocable step
OF convoking a national assembly based
on universal suffrage.
If it is probable that the German En-
peror will offer no suggestion counter
to his personal aspirations or to the
national interests Of Germany, it may be |
accepted as certain that no counsel,
however wise in itself and however
earnestly uttered, will make a lasting |
impression on the mind Of the present
Gar. Events have shown that the
Russian sovereign is incapable of adher-
ing to definite policy, but is q person 1,
OF moods and oaprices, plastic to the
emotion of the moment, ductile to any
will stronger than his own. The reso-
luton which yesterday he formed, or
imagined himself to form, in the cabin
of the Kaiser's yacht, will be effaced
Il Tomorrow In the palace Of Tsarskoe -Solo |