Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-20

scure than article IL, there was only a ques-
tion of Russian settlements n Manchurian
territory, but not at all in Sungari.
The Japanese have an interest in pene-
trating to the heart of me Russian possess
sions, and hence their persistent claims.
Inc Russians replied that the treaty of
Aitchonni, 1858. forbade that the rivers
Amur. Ussuri and Sungari be opened ex-
cept to Russians and the Chinese: that at
the same time the treaty of the 14th of Oc-
tooer, 1903, could not destroy former &C
power. Nevertheless the Japanese govern
ment has continued to claim for its flag
free circulation this important afluent
of the Amur river
The rejection of the japanese project by
the Russians has caused the latter to offer
a counter project, and the discussion of the
latter has already occupied four months.
The manifest carelessnesS and lack of pre-
cision in the treaty of Portsmouth Is lie
fault of the Russians, and the present ne
EQUATION IS the consequence.
1t should be added that the Japanese de-
mand permission to send consuls to ladi
vostok, Petropavlosk and Nikolaievsk As
to this, Russia replies that the Japanese say
nothing of granting Russia in return the
privilege of appointing consuls in japanese
ports. The Japanese likewise ask that the
passport fee should be reduced by one-half
1t is pointed out in reply that such a ques-
ton could only ne considered in connection
with the revision of the whole passport
system of the empire.
A cablegram from st. Petersburg on the
14th instant announces that the car had
addressed imperial re-
Emperor's script to NJ Stolypine in
Rescript which the minister is praised
for the re-establishment of
order. In five months, says the emperor, the
cabinet, due to his energy, has succeeded in
affecting great amelioration in the estab-
lishment of public order, in spite of the
audacious efforts and crimes of the revo-
lutionists. whose purpose was TO plunge
the empire into confusion and anarchy.
Nicholas ii then speaks of the projects Oh
law the government proposes TO submit TO
the duma. which he considers as so urgently
necessary that they have been applied IN
anticipation of its reunion.
The car thanks M. Stoypine and all the
members of the cabinet for their services,
and expresses the hope that when the next
duma and the council of the empire shall
assemble they will continue their eHorts 10
cause his will to prevail. for 1t Is only by
an accord between the new parliament ana
the cabinet that it will be possible to guar
antee legal order and the reorganization or
the forces of the state in accord with the
new life to which Russia is called
The finances of Russia for 1906 show
marked improvement. The ordinary and
extraordinary receipts for 1906 amount TO
81. G76, 100000. The exports, on the con-
trary were $1J69. 10000. After iiqu.dat-
Ing q deficit Tor Oh liicic
remains therefore an excess OF S2o,ooooo.
Minister Kokousoff, in an interview with
a correspondent on the 10TH instant, saiu
he regarded 1907 as being the last year OF
Russias extreme financial dlfhcuities ana
referred to the rapidity with which out
standing expenses of the war We're being
wiped out and that no nation, unless II was
the United States, had been able to pay
without receiving an indemnity the cost
of a great war, and this by raising spe-
cial loan covering several years Nj no
kousoff referred to the straitened circum.
stances of Great Britain in consequence OF
the Boer war.
The ukases relative to agrarian reform
are frequent A few days ago ukases were
issued for the sale of lands for the pene-
fit of the peasants; of lands situated IN
Russian Europe. and those ceded by me
emperor from his domain in the Altai FOL
lowing this was the solemn ukase or DC
tober IS, comforting upon peasants equalty
of rights with other classes.
Thus Minister Stolypine seems TO nave
chosen these rural reforms as guarantee
of good will before the reunion of the fu-
ture duma AS the agrarian question
dominated the proceedings of the defunct
of the interior policy of government. The
government. by its agrarian, concessions;
will have doubtless gained the undivided
support of the peasants.
The Japanese are urgently occupied in
reorganizing their army. In August 1903.
when peace was signed the
Japan's total Japanese forces in the
Army. field amounted TO 01o"o
men; that of the Rus
SLAMS 100000 This superiority in point OF
numbers would have been accumulated as
the war progressed, and this fact, with the
war debt. determined the mikado to aban-
don at Portsmouth a notable part of his
contentious
The government proceeded to increase
the number Of its permanent formations
1t found how difficult it was during opera
lions in the field to constitute new unities;
it recognized the fact that If a soldier
could be formed in a few weeks the regi-
mental staff could not be improvised.
The government specified that the three
divisions numbered ID, IA, 49, which 1t was
able to organize as well as possible during
the last six months of the campaign, should
be maintained. In October, 1905. the gov
eminent created another division which
was numbered 16
While the old army returned to Japan
and was reduced to peace footing. these
four divisions remained in Manchuria and
in Korea, where they are maintained In
active service The Japanese, however, are
not willing that the effective shall remain
at sixteen divisions. but have added an
other. the 18th, which is being organized.
The army thus will comprise twenty-one
divisions of infantry. twenty of which will
corps similar to those of France-the guard
only remaining independent When mobil-
lied each one of these twenty-one divisions
is expected to create brigade of eight to
twelve battalions.
Fina .ly, the Japanese, aware of the grave
disadvantages of an insufficient cavalry in
numbers and quality, have undertaken the
reform Of that arm and already the service
nas been improved. The law of recruit
ing has also been modified In principle
all subjects of the mikado are held to mill
tary service and should remain three years
In the active army. But, in reality, be-
cause of financial difficulties the effective
of the active army cannot go beyond 100
600 men, In order to increase the number
without augmenting the budget the minis
ter of war has found that there was but
one remedy, namely, to lessen the length
Of service In time of peace from three to
two years. The minister has prepared a
project in these terms and the annual con-
tingent will thus be raised to 100000 men.
The future relations of China, Russia
and Japan to each other. and to the United
States, constitute a play of the most dra-
matte interest to the United States more
than to all others, because of its privi-
legged situation in the Pacific, which obliges
1t to become both actor and interested
spectator in the drama.
CHI. CHAILLE-LONG.