The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-08-21
CONTINUED from page u

The car sent me to Japan to
learn how well-grounded we're my
fears, but all the time Bezobrazoff' S
company kept on its aggressive
practice through the summer Of
1903--in spite Of the public ruling
of the car. Its chief promoter
bore down ministerial opposition
SO far that Witte reported In May
that he was not In disagreement
with him, so far as the essence Of
the matter was concerned" But
did not make any concession OF
this kind. l returned from Japan
and reported to the emperor in
July-six months before hostilities
began-"If we do not put an emu
to the uncertain state of affairs In
Manchuria and to the adventurous
acticity Of Bezobrazoff in Korea
we must expect a rupture with
Japan"
Meanwhile Bezobrazoff and his
timber company were able to keep
the armed forces of Russia, to
which Japan violently objected, in
Korea. In June, in special re-
port to the car, said that III AID.
miral Alexeieff had not succeeded
in intercepting a dispatch from
Boleshoff with regard to catching
all the Japanese Furnishing them
publicly and taking action with
volleys' there would have been a
bloody episode upon the Yalu be-
fore this time"
The opposition Of myself and the
other ministers was not sufficient.
Suddenly, during the summer of
1903, Admiral Alexeieff, who had
been used by Bezobrazoff to his
own advantage, was made viceroy
of the Far East by the car. l re-
signed as minister of war, and was
given long leave of absence by
the car. White was put out OF the
ministry of finance by being pro-
NOTED. The whole government of
the Far East was turned over to
the sympathizers with Bezobrazoff.
This organization headed straight
for war. Japan protested angrily
against their policy, Viceroy
Alexeieff replied stif1y. On Feb.
6, 1904, matters ended with the be-
ginning of the war.
In my visit to Japan | met cor
dial reception, and felt sure that
the government did not desire war
with Russia, but was prepared to
defend Korea against Russian ag-
gression.
Before | resigned, in a report to
the czar. said:
on the. mainland lin Korea and
Manchuria) we could not destroy
her. And if we do not destroy ia
pan utterly, she will wait until we
are engaged in war in the west,
and will then avail herself of the
opportunity to attack us.
~ ut must not be forgotten that
Japan cannot only put quickly into
the field, in Korea or Manchuria, a
well organized and well trained
army of from 10000 to 100000
men. but can do this without draw
ing at all heavily upon her popula-
ton. Japan can maintain force
of 100000 soldiers In time of peace,
and 100000 in time of war"
urged that we abandon Port
Arthur and give up the Yalu lum-
Der business (Kuropatkin did not
know then of the financial interests
of the royal family in the lumber
company.-Editor) for, as said to
the car, "a war with Japan will
be unpopular, will cause diSaffec-
ton among the cars subjects and
will invite attacks from our Euro
pean neighbors. Russia has not the
melancholy necessity of waging
war in order to get market for
her products"
Further min my report I con-
sidered fully the advantages and
disadvantages of such a decision,
and set forth the principal advan-
tages as follows: First, we shall
escape the necessity of fighting ia