The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-23

| London, March 23.-En2land is
getting surer and surer that Japan
and China are bound to hight. There
are reasons Tor anticipating trouble
between the mikado and Uncle Sam,
but there are better ones for counting
on a clash between the Nippon and
the Chinese.
The chance for sair IS greater and
the risks are less. from the United
lStates-even assuming japanese
victory-the mikado could expect to
wrest nothing but the Philippines and
perhaps the Hawaiian group. If he
whipped the Chinese, the possibilities
of territorial expansion would be al
most limitless.
The Philippines and the Hawaiian
islands would not be such important
acquisitions, after al. The latter are
too small to count FOR much. The
former are rich IN possibilities, but
undeveloped and endlessly trouble
some to rule and police.
To be sure, the Filipinos are more
| like japanese than they are like
Americans, and maybe the mikado
could get on better with them than
Uncle Sam. Then. again, perhaps ne
couldn't. Formosans are like Japa-
nese, too, and Japan is fairly pouring
money and men into Formosa, anc
yet can't keep IL licked" Part OF
the island is quiet enough and part OF
IL isn't. The mikado isn't talking
much about his troubles there but
he's having them, and in the end they
promise to cost him all the island is
worth.
| Would Split With Cznr.
| The Chinese, on the other hand
once beaten, would probably stay
beeten for good. Japan might have
to cut il up with the powers. Indeed.
il is whispered that the mikado and
the car already have some such I'M
derstandlng between themselves. Still.
Japan might reasonably count on the
lions share.
Needless to say, the country,s
wealth Is boundless. It's right in
Japan's dooryard. too. Nothing could
be more convenient
Some say the japanese want Amer
Tea and Europe as fields for their sur.
Iplus population. Well, what's the
matter with China for such a pur-
pose? 1t is already thickly settled in
spots. of course, but not everywhere.
Manchuria Is not Overlooking. And
not nearly such difficult place to
colonize as white mans country.
Trying To Pick Quarrel.
Besides all these reasons-as Brit
ish statesmen and financlers and mill
ltary and naval experts see them-why
Japan should want a piece of China,
the mikado also acts as If he wanted
lit.
No EnglishmaR acquainted with
Ioriental conditions doubts that Japan
has been trying TO pick a quarrel with
lChina for months. II has been domi-
lneering and arrogant In Korea and
lManchuria. 10 has acted unreason-
Iably in connection with the proposed
Iparalleling of the Manchurian rail-
lroad. II has made unreasonable and
Istill unsettled territorial demands on
Pekin. II has seemed to be doing
Everything 1t could, in fact, to pro-
woke an explosion.
British government officials don't
TRY hard to conceal their belief that
Nippon meant to fight over the Tatsu
Maru. All the diplomats thought the
mikado was not only wrong, but knew
he was wrong. He made demands
with which he probably did not en-
pect the Chinese to comply. and
backed them up with an ultimatum
and a naval demonstration.
Tie general opinion in Downing
street is that there would have been
a fight If England had not "pooh
poohed" the idea OF war over such a
ltrifie. The elder statesmen had a no.
ton, too, that their pretext was q
little fiimsy-that the worlds sympa-
thies would be against them in the
event of clash-that they'd better
make another opportunity and try
lagain.
Japs and Hard Luck.
1t was rather awkward for the Jap
anese. They'd gone so far that they
had hard work to stop, and in the end
they came out of the controversy with
some loss of diplomatic prestige
China was Inundated, to some m
demnity and an apology, but its ulti-
matum had been treated with scorn;