Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-14
JAPAN, CH|NA'S MENACE
No Solution Yet Of Relations Of
Two Countries.
JAPAN TO DOMINATE CHINA
Actions Interpreted IS Studied Effort
TO Provoke an Excuse For
Aggression.

London. March News from
Peking gives at least the impression
that the relations holding between
China ami Japan are far from the
frIendliest. Just what the policy OF
Japan NAV be Is dimcult to determine.
China views with distrust every
movement OF Japan. That Japan
is on the verge Of casting aside
all pretense of desire for the indie
pendence Of China and is hoping to
find IN the Anglo-Jaranese alliance
support for an assault upon the in
tegritg OF this nation. Is the conyic-
ton not only of high officials of the
Chinese government but many Of the
foreign diplomats al Picking.
Despite official expressions Of
frfendliness at Toxic the negotiations
CT past few months developed a con
stantly increasing tendency to hector
and bulldoze China, which is inter-
preted by observers here as part of a
studied effort to provoke some act
that will furnish some excu9e for
Japanese aggression.
The semi-ofIicial press OF the Jap
anese capital, of whose inspiration
there can be no doubt, reflects this
feeling. Frequent reference in the
council chamber and on the platform,
as well as in the press, indicate that
the real anxiety of that nation as a
whole is centered in its relations with
this vast undeveloped empire or its
western flaak. Japanese publicists
are proclaiming China to be ''the burn
ing question OF the year"
That Japan has, ever since her sue
cessful war with China Ia years ago,
nursed a determination to dominate
Asia, is known to the world. The
strengthening of his determination
by the outcome of the conflict with
Russia was most natural-it removed
her most serious rival. Her diplomat
ic tying mp with the European nations
for the ostealsibIe preservation of
Chinese integrity and OF the Asiatic
status quo has never blinded her big
neighbor to the menace of the demina
ton by japan.
When Count Hayashi gave vointed
intmation & at China "would do we'll
to take lesson from Korea he re-
vealed the underlying Japanese
thought. There was multitude OIL
disclaimers at the time, but now the
same intimation is coming, not cnly
through secret channels of diplomacy
but openly.
The leading organ Of Japanese
diplomacy is out in open warning toi
the Chinese government that the pa
thence of JAPAN is not inexhaG tibTe.
alleging that since the Russo-Japan-
csc war practically no progress has
been made toward solution of the
various questions outstanding betweenI
China and Japan which arose out Of
the war. which, this semi-official pro-
nounciamento declares, was undertake
en- to protect the independence of
China 1t adds bluntly that if China
preserves in her present attitude.
Japan may be Obliged to adopt the
policy pursued by Russia before the
war"
Internal conditions in Japan are in
what might be termed critical state.
The heavy burden entailed upon that
nation 10y the war with Russia is Just
beginning to be felt, With the pub
licists crying out against "a policy of
boated ornaments" and with deep
seated popular resentment against the
increases in TAXATION forced upon the
country through the failure to receive
the universally expected vast money
indemnity from Russia, diversion of
some kind would be welcome to the
government OF Japan.