Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-31


the far east. The occidental press. echo
ing the perturbation consequent in diplo-
matte circles. has not yet recovered its
normal composure
Only a little while ago it was seriously
concluded in these same political. circles
that Russia and Japan would soon renew
the conflict that was only temporarily
closed at Portsmouth Dr. Dillon, the sage
oriental chronicler OF the Contemporary
Review, strenuously opposes this conclu-
sion. and. comparing the friendship of
Russia and japan to that OF Pyiades and
Orestes. declares that the event which
has surprised every one else is no sur
prise to him. He knew, indeed. that since
1905 Russia was preparing for an often
sive and defensive alliance with her re-
cent antagonist, and that what was con-
ceived by Count Lamsdorf had been
achieved by NJ. 1svolsky. THE ex-foes
were pushed toward each other by shoves
and pushes from without
In the meantime the announcement of
the treaty has been interpreted by the
European press as distinctly anti-Amer-
lean and as an answer to Mr.. knox's
proposal to neutralize Manchurian rail-
ways.
A dispatch from Toxic from Marquis
Katsura. the Japanese premier and min
lister OF finance, promptly denied the ad-
verse Interpretation. The premier said:
There is not the slightest foundation
for the assertion published in Europe that
the Russo-Japanese con-
Premler'S vention was the outcome
n.:., of the naturalization prop
SoA' osition. 1t had absolutely
,:xl e 4 W.
or indirectly intended as an answer to
the United States 1t was made solely
with the purpose of iBuring peace in the
far east. and 1t was Japan's determined
policy to adhere to all agreements and
treaties with China and other nations"
A dispatch from Berlin reported the
delivery at the German foreign Office of
the text of the RusSo-JapaneSe conven-
ton by Baron Chinda and Count Won der
Osten-Sacken, ambassador of Russia. The
ambassador remarked that the treaty
constituted an extension Of the Russo
Japanese agreement Of 1907. 1t signified
a further guarantee for the maintenance
of the status quo and peace and the
fundamental principle of the open door
was unaffected. Herr Won Schon re-
ceived these assurances with thanks and
stated to the ambassadors that Germany
hoped that the principle OF the open
door-so important to German economical
interests in the far east-would be upheld
sincerely by the two powers.
The kreuz-Zeitung, commenting on the
Russo-Japanese agreement, declared that
Germany. Austria and the United States
now stood outside the new four-power
entente and counseled close rela-
tions between these powers as the neces-
sary correction of the latest alteration
Of the equilibrium-that the Iron should
be struck while hot
he mic a
opinion, expressed the conviction that
now Russia would have her rear guarded
in the Pacific and could turn her undivid-
ed strength to other spheres which she
held dear in the Balkan peninsula and in
Persia. This new situation would GER
tainly affect Russia's future attitude to-
ward Germany and Austria Hungary.
The Neue Wiener Tageblatt remarked
that Japan had no right, according to
the AngIo-Japanese agreement of 1905,
fensive with another power without the
consent of England. Thus, IL England
had approved the recent Russo-Japanese
agreement-of which there was little
to turn its policy in the far east in d.
rect opposition to that of the United
States. For a fact, adds the Tageblatt
England had already shown that devia-
ton when she approved the opposition of
Russia and Japan to the internationali-
4 \
The Austrian journals expressions are
entirely comprehensive. Austria has no
particular interests in the
AuStria'S far east, but the fact al
n.A: ready mentioned by the
A"oA'AoA' Germania. that Russia had
united her hands in Manchuria in order
to be free in the Balkans, shows that the
Austrian remembers the advantage taken
of Russia by the violation of the treaty
of Berlin. Russia was now free Of all
fear for her interests In the far east, and
would be ready to bar any further aug
mentation Of Austrian interests in the
Balkans. Thus the anger of the Austrian
press, and the same may be said of the
German.
There is much ado about nothing in the
European press over the assumed unpub-
lished clauses OF the present treaty by
which Russia is said to have given her
consent to the annexation Of Korea by
Japan. How absurd! How short the
memory of certain European journals,
which fail to remember that Russia gave
Japan her assent to that annexation at
in the council room at Portsmouth will
be recalled when Count de Witte boldly
summoned Baron Komura to quit all
regeneration over Korea, for he aban-
doned all Russian pretensions in that
country. From that hour Korea passed
into the undisputed possession of Japan.
1t was a master stroke of diplomacy on
the part of the Russian representative,
and is the key to the present Russo
Japanese agreement.
The Times correspondent from Berlin
writes that apart from the expected dis
approval at Washington. the only other
feature of German comment is the evil
dent belief that English expressions of
satisfaction ARE insincere, and that the
Anglo-Japanese alliance has somehow or
other been weakened"
The Paris Temps follows the general
current of impressions that the Russo
Japanese agreement is an answer to Mr..
Knox's proposal, But it adds that France
and England may congratulate them
selves upon the growing intimacy be-
tween Russia and Japan, their respective
allies, and adds. in part:
For as, the part which certain Asiatic
conflicts have sometimes played in the
politics Of Europe has al
French ways been disastrous
r.A.4 Everything that is cal
COW culated to obviate a re-
currence of these conflicts by a policy