The Washington herald., 1910-01-02
BY EX-ATTACHE.

Should Russia succeed in carrying into
effect the intentions attributed to her in
cable dispatches from Europe, OF selling
the northern half Of the island of sagha-
lien. a source Of constant dlsc0rd be-
tween the Muscovite empire and Japan,
viii have been eliminated, and the main
tenance OF peace between these two rival
powers in the far eastern portion of
Asia proportionately assured. For this
| island, which is chiefly known to the
( lieges of the Gar as the most terribly
severe of all the penal settlements Of
his government. has always been a source
of trouble and I'll feeling between Russia
and Japan; and one of the most dis
quoting features of the Treaty of Ports
mouth, which brought the sanguinary
war between the two nations to close
| five years ago, was that which divided
the island between them, ceding the
southern portion TO the MikadO, and the
northern half to Nicholas IT, For the
difficulty Of establishing and maintaining
the boundaries between the two moeties,
was but one of the many causes of in
evitable friction resulting from the ar
rangement
| 1t is asserted in the dispatches con-
corning Russias plans to sell her half Of
the island. that she expects to obtain a
large price, owing TO the likelihood Of
competition on the part Of the United
States with Japan. in the matter of the
purchase But while the possession of the
northern half of Saghalien may offer
some advantages to this country. in con-
nection with its fisheries and sealing
grounds, these could not begin 10 weigh
/ in the balance against the innumerable
objections to any acquisition of the ter
ritory and adjacent waters in question
by Uncle Sam, even as a gift
|
Without entering into the question as
to the feelings and attitude of the Tokyo
government. there is no doubt that the
l Japanese people bitterly resented the
! American seizure Of the Philippines,
which they had accustomed themselves
10 regard as destined TO become one of
| their dependencies as soon as ever the
wane of Spanish sovereignty over the
! archipelago had attained the vanishing
point
! That the constant instructions Of the
/ Filipinos against the Spanish authori-
ties In the islands were fostered and pro-
NOTED. not by the japanese government.
but by the japanese people. with this
object in view is known to every one
who has any acquaintance with the af-
| fairs of the Orient, and So cruel was the
national disappointment in Dai Nippon
when after the war Of 1898 with Spain,
and the battle of Manila. the Philippines
/ became an American colony. that the
/ Japanese press was loud in its protests,
and vigorous in It's denunciation of it's
own government, for permitting the Unit
ed States 10 establish herself, territorial
ly speaking, off the southeastern coast
OF Asia.
Ever since, the japanese people have
plainly intimated that the retention Of
the Philippines by this country was en-
tirely dependent upon their pleasure and
good will, and that in the event OF any
/ trouble arising between the two powers.
the first move on their part would be
to seize the islands.
! Situated as they are at a distance Of
many thousand miles from the United
| States, whence il would be necessary TO
draw troops, ships, and war material OF
every kind. il would be Just as Difficult;
1 for this country TO hold the Philippines
against the japanese as it would for
/ France 10 hold Cochin-China. or Holland
the Dutch Indies II similarly attacked.
/ Japan is situated within easy striking
/ distance OF them all. the Philippines. in
deed. being the nearest. and would be
able to land entire armies on the coast