Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22

was I6fn1i1af Win mucn OF the detail VI
the comedy enacted.
In. his book recently published NJ. Chera-
dame traces the development of Russian
ambition. which slowly but surely during
three centuries has moved from the Ural to
the Pacific The Russian Is never in
hurry; his complexion and character make
1t thus. and II. for example, he should by
exception act precipitately. as in the last
ten years, he pays the penalty of the In
fraction. 1t was only In 1850 that the
standards with the double-headed eagle
were advanced to the mouth OF the Amur.
and Vladivostock was created the morning
after the treaty Of 1860. The treaty of 1878
barred Russia's march upon Constantinople.
and 1t was thus her ambitions changed d.
rection toward the far east. In 1891 a great
event happened which might have changed
her purpose. turned her face again TO Eu-
rope. The Franco-Russian alliance was
concluded. What II a Russian prince then
had undertaken to avenge the humiliation
OF 1878? But Russia saw her destiny in
the Pacific, and with this end in view. in
1871 the work on the Trans-Siberian
pushed to completion. Vladivostock. once
established as great terminal and naval
depot Russia would be the mistress of
Asia.
NJ. Cheradame reproaches Russia and Flu
rope with Ignoring the ancient civilization
of Japan. But the writer must remark just
here that 1t is not ancient Japan. but mod
ern Japan, with which Russia crossed
swords and which imposed itself as a first
class power in Asia and over Asia, which
has slipped like magic from the grasp of
Russia
NJ. Cheradame says in the debut of the
war In 1904 there existed very well-defined
indication of the great danger to which Rus
STA was exposed. why" he asks did
they not know as much at st. Petersburg?'
Lamentable ignorance, for a fact. but ig
norance in which others not so much inter-
eSted were participants. Japan. who had
submitted to the Russians occupation of
Sakhalin In 1873. was obliged to abandon
Port Arthur in 1895. to be repac ed by Rus
STA at the time IA Tod
policy of aggression in Korea IN 1903-0t
FROM the treaty of Shimonosih Japan had
no other thought but war. for which she
made prodigious preparation. and of which
no nation knew anything except Germany,
as we have seen.
NJ. Cheradame has a word of sympathy
Tor autocratic Russia. He declares that 1t
Is unjust to confound the
emperor ana government Of the car
Bureaucracy. with the simple despotism
If the Turk. From a very
long time there has existed the cleo
tive system In the masses, the labor
laws show much boldness and solicit
tude and collectivism Is practiced in
the country. NJ Cheradame speaks also OF
the liberal intentions of the emperors since
Alexander ii, but he claims that the bu-
reaucracy has very many more misdeeds
to reproach itself with than the imperial
power, and bureaucracy is not the unique
speciality of Imperialism, for 1t may be and
is the product likewise of democracy.
NJ. Cheradame accuses the German rep
resentative at Picking of having worked
diligently to make trouble between Russia
and China, and was chagrined not to have
succeeded. 1t was understood that the war
would have been long, painful and costly
for the Russians. 1t is well known that
Germany received coldly the offers of medi-
alton presented by England on that occa-
sion. piquant detail of that intrigue
consists in the fact that during the crisis
China received a cargo of German armsi
When the Emperor of Germany learned
| the conclusion of the treaty of the dual
alliance Germany redoubled her efforts TO
| push Russia to engage in her Asiatic enter
| prise. She Joined Russia, and also France,
| with the result that while Germany seized
| Kiao-chau. Russia occupied Port Arthur.
In attaching Russia thus indefinitely to a
| perilous policy in the far east, Germany
| deprived the Franco-Russian alliance of It's
| efficacy in Europe, and NJ. Cheradame re-
proaches the French government with not
having warned Russia of the danger of her
| Asiatic designs. The alarm indeed was
sounded by M de Fleurac, French military
attache at Berlin, who wrote In 1891 that
Germany was endeavorfng to push Japan
against Russia in such manner that France
could not count upon any assistance IN
Europe" From the same agent other re-
ports were cited which in the light OF sub
sequent events are strangely prophetic. On
| the other hand. 1t must be taken into con-
| sidera ton that conflict with Japan was
| looked upon by Russia as little more than
| a skirmish which might serve TO exercise
| her army, but which could add nothing TO
| the prestige of the heroes of Plevna. IN
| der such circumstances 1t is extremely
doubtful If Russia would have entertained
| the friendly suggestions of her ally and
possibly may have been wounded at the
| intimatIon that her army was not what II
| might be.
| In 1895 the Russians and japanese were
very near TO war and Il was due only to the
prudence of Admiral de Beaumont that a
| rupture was prevented. May it not be
| asked today if there is reason for congrat-
ulation? The japanese forces were not then
what they were ten years later. perhaps
| the favorable moment for Russia was al
| lowed to pass.
| NJ. Rene Pinon. also an acknowledged au-
.l..xi+.- or, tl,s ca stern nueStinn. writing