New-York tribune., 1908-05-04
Japan IN MANCHUR{A.

A highly interesting and quite plausible ex-
planation is given by the Toxic correspondent
of The London Times on Japanese authority
of the course which has been pursued by the
Japanese in Manchuria since the war with
Russia and which has resulted In the rousng
of so much actual resentment and antagonlsm
among the Chinese and so much apprehension
and, indeed, reprObation. among other nations
II is clearly recognized in Japan, as it could
not easily fail to be. that the policy pursued
in Manchuria has not been altogether salts
factory to the world, and also that there has
been some legitimate ground for dissatisfac
tion although there has been much to COM
mend ard although some of the adverse critf-
cisms have been based upon misapprehension
Or misinformation. .....-
The first trouble at Tairen, which place
the Japanese kept for time closed against all
commerce but their own. in spite of The fact
that It had been and nomnally was an open
port But the Japanese then kept it closed
partly because of the purely military occupation
and administration of Southern Manchuria and
partly because the Russian government had
not vet assented to the establishment Of Gus
tom houses along the Russo-Chinese frontier
Eventually this trouble was abated by the
onening of Tairen to all the world on equal
terms considerably In advance Of the Organiza-
ton of a customs service on the Siberian boun-
Diary. Then another cause OF complaint arose
in the alleged discrimination practised by
the Japanese in railroad rates In favor or
Tairen against New Chwang and other ports.
and this too. was settled by rectif1cation and
an eQualizati ton of rates. Since then many other
complaints have been made against the Japan
ese but they have not been specific. 1t has
been vaguely declared In general terms that
the Japanese seeking monopoly OF trade
Nanoh,Iria and SYertiUp all
possible influences TO that end but precisely
what they are doing is not stated.
That there has been apparent ground for
complaints the Japanese themselves admit. 1t
took some time to remodel and equip the rail-
roads, and meantime IL was impossible to
carry promptly ali freight that was offered:
and 1t was only natural that the japanese
In such circumstances should give the prefer
ence to their own goods, especially to govern
ment goods. The soldiers who manned the
roads, too. acted toward civilian passengers and
shippers with some degree of military brusque
ness, not to say roughness for which they are
said to have been reprOved by their superiors.
But. above all, a good many Japanese as
sumed that Japan had succeeded Russia in all
respects in Manchuria, and that therefore the
Japanese were privileged TO act as the Russians
had acted and to enjoy the special advantages
which the Russians had enjoyed They are
getting rid Of that error now, and in conse-
quence materially changing their attitude
toward the Chinese and toward all foreigners
We may expect complaints and occasional
actual friction to continue for some time. There
are few problems more difficult of solution
than the readjusting of affairs after war
which has materially altered the status of a
country But the readiness with which Japan
has removed some causes of complaint when
fbevy Ily ta5 bar l..
of resentment at such complaints and criti-
cisms, give ground for hoping that she will
show herself entirely amenable to the influences
of the worlds consensus of opinion, and that
In the future the last real cause Of COM
plant will be removed.