The Washington herald., 1919-11-30

American influence In China, IL Rus
sia had survived, also might have
been curtailed by the understa nding
between the two old enemies.
Ready to Risk Dangers.
For Japan. this 1916 treaty is Of
such paramount Importance that she
Is ready to risk all the dangers Of In
tervention, II she can restore to Rus
sia government that will recognize
1t and carry out its terms. There may
be other reasons for the step. like
wise of a material nature. but that
this is one OF the controlling reasons
In the minds Of the Mikado's minis
ters there Is no doubt"
THE Siberian railway Is on Russian
territory IS far as the town of Man.
churis," he said, ION the Western
frontier of the province Of that name.
From this point the line merges into
the Chinese Eastern, which crosses
Manchuria. joins the Russian system
at the frontier and leads to\Vladivo-
stock. From, Harbin the Chinese
Eastern goes south to Port Arthur.
A branch line connects Vladivostoclx
with the town of Khabarovsk, and is
as Indisputably Russian as the ST.
berian railway.
Work was thus actually begun by
Russia on the great strategic Amur
Railway. and some sections of II have
been completed. At Khabarovsk 1t will
link up with the Ussuri Railway, con-
Meeting with Vladivostock And COM
pleting communications across the
continent through all Russian terri
tory.
Thus Russia. losing the Manchurian
railways In the war with Japan in
1905. at once set to work to plan others
through Siberia that should serve in
another war. For strategic reasons
the Amur route was carried as far
north as possible. out OF reach of
Japanese armies from Manchurla. The
railways total length will be. 800
miles. and 1t will cross four rivers. A
number of branch lines were to con-
meet the main line with the Chinese
Eastern. and ultimately 1t was pro-
posed to build an extension to Nlcol-
aievsk. commercial fort at the
mouth of the Amur.
In the event OF another war be-
tween Russia and Japan. Russia real
lied that she could not use the Man.
churian railways. but the 6.0Oo-miie
direct all-Russian line to VIadivostock
was her answer. II could not be fin-
ished for years. but it worried Japan.
and would still worry her IL Russia
revived and held Siberia
Railways May suve Russia.
with the new railways built,
Russia might become stronger than
ever before in the Far East. IL a
reason be sought for japanese inter-
vention in Siberia IL could be fur
nished by considering the strategic
value of the new Russian lines. and
the strong objections that Japan has
to a threat from Asia. II Japan
once gets control of the southern
portion of the maritime province. to-
sether with Vladivostock and the
railway to Khabarovsk. it is dificult
to believe she will ever give them
up excepting under strong pressure.
Americans. few in numbers IT Is
true. she would have that control
today.
This railroad motive for Jspa-
nese Intervention in Siberia Is not
Inconsistent with the fact expla ined
before that Japan desires to restore
a strong and stable Russia to carry
out the 1916 treaty, which had for
its object nothing less than the par
tition of China between the two
great powers. and united action on
the part of both against any other
countries daring to interfere.
ITO reconcile Japanese opposition TO
Russian strategic railways on the
Pacific, and japanese willingness to
share with Russia in the spoils of
China. 1t must be remembered that
Fladivostock is on one side of a mar
row straight and the Northern Japa-
nese islands are on the other The
distance between il no greater than
from Antwerp to London, and Japan
in the East must defend the Japan
Sea as England in the West defends
the North Sea, against encroachments
from any Continental power. Just as
Britain would not allow Germany m
Belgium or Holland. neither is Japan
content to have Russia just across
the Japan Straights. She does not
propose to have her there again.
But Japan. desiring a strong Rus
sia for reasons already given, favors
Russian expansion in China and would
offer much of China to Russia As COM
pensstion for the loss OF the Siberian
coast. Japan moreover has a strong
conviction that no power excepting
Russia and herself has any rights in
China: Russia is looked upon by Japan
as an Asiatic country and as such en-
titled to special consideration.
Russia being Asiatic belongs in
China. other powers being non-Asia-
tic ought to clear out. This is a fixed
and unalterable policy of Japan, who
will henceforth resist at all costs the
interference of non-Asiatic countries
In the affairs of China. just as cer-
tainly as she will Danish Russia from
the Japan Sea.
The analysis OF Jspan's aims that
have given here from a source |
may pot name I believe to be correct.
Wit me President i'll. Is there any
body in Washington with power suf-
ficient to grapple with the problem of
withdrawing or reinforcing our men
in Siberia. to decide to give japan
a free hand. or not? IGhave been
asked that question here and have
had to reply that do not know.