Evening star., 1920-02-22

iieinoeruent OF CHINA by European
powers and the probable exclusion Of
Japan from any influential position
on the continent Of Asia. as we'll -
positive danger to her from the ID.
vance Of Russia
For years before 1895 there had
been a gradual appropriation Of con-
cessions or of territory in the Celes-
tial empire. Hongkong was incorpo-
rated into the British empire in 1S42.
Concessions. either general for all
foreign countries or separately occu-
pied by each. were first granted in
Shanghai in 1s45. and later in other
leading cities. The very plausible
reason was given that separate
abodes and locations for business
were needed to assure protection
against attack and to enforce sani-
tary and police regulations which the.
Chinese could not or would not en-
force. AS q result the visitor in the
portions of Chinese cities conceded to
foreigners might regard himself as In
the midst of a European city. In
Tientsin. with a population Of over
700. 900, less than 10000 Of whom are
foreigners. the concessions occupy
three-fifths of the total area of the
city. These were being steadily en-
iarged.
large. annexations Of Chinese terri
tory by European powers. These in.
cluded a million square miles by Rus
sia. between the Amur river and the
Arctic ocean, under treaties in 1858
and 1860. and a much smaller but
more thickly populated area in Indo-
China. ceded to France in 1884.
when Disnenbernest Was Near.
But soon after the war between
Japan and China in 1ss4-5 a veritabie
scramble commenced for obtaining
harbors or concessions. In 1898 Ger
many secured a lease for ninety-nine
years of the Kiaochow bay and the
surrounding lands in Shantung. in
GLIDING the harbor of Tsingtao. to-
gether with the right to build rail-
ways and utilize mines In that prov
ince. Russia obtained in the same
the Liaotung peninsula in South Man.
churia, comprising thirteen hundred
square miles. in which Port Arthur ID
located. This was the very locality
which had been refused to Japsn
after her victory over China in 1895.
Immediately thereafter Frsace obs
tanned lease ofa valuable harbor In
-, 80
cent to her possessions IN the south
OF China. and Great Britain obtained
d lease Of the wei-hai-w Wei harbor on
the northeasterly side of the Shan
tung province. Italy was seeking a
concession. ..
At the request Of Secretary Hay. the
principles of the open door and of the
territorial integrity of China were
agreed upon by Japan and all the
other great powers in 1sss-1s0o. e
In the war Of 1905 between Russia
and Japan the sympathy OF ne United
States was strongly with me latter
country because of international
friendship. also because Russia with
palpable unfairness had gained for
uSi oSil a. Ce III coothSfH NuoHChuTA8s
of which Japan had been deprived
after her contest with China. Again
Japan had stood for the Independents
of Korea and against aggression in
China
A third stage or period begins with
the victorious conclusion Of the war
Of Japan against Russia In 1905 Be-
fore that time. Japan, as no indiffer-
ent spectator, had been compelled TO
look upon the increasing hold Of
other nations in China. The open door
there and the maintenance of the ter
ritorial integrity of China and Korea
were altogether for her advantage,
but since the defeat of Russia the
settled policy of Japan, utilizing her
increased power in the orient. has
manifestly been to acquire a para
mount influence in eastern Asia, and
with this acquisition there would be
unlimited possibilities beyond. It 10
useless to deny that at the present
time the most assertive public opin-
ion in Japan demands this.
1t is asserted that the future of
China is hopeless; that no stable goy- .
ernment Is possible there, and China
will not only be helpless to aid her
self, but she is becoming q menace to
other nations. /,
The course of Japan in Korea illus
trates her later policy. In a treaty
with that country in 1894. II is said.
THE object of the alliance is TO
maintain the independence of Korea
An agreement with Russia in 1893
recognized the entire Independence Of.
Korea. The first treaty with England
in 1902 stated that both countries are
especially interested in maintaining
the territorial integrity of the em-
pire Of China and the empire Of Korea.
and declare themselves TO be unin-
nueneed BY any aggressive tendencies
in either country" .
Japan Takes Over Ksrea.
In February. 1894, the Emperor Of
Japan in q rescript declared the in
tegrity Of Korea is q matter of the
gravest concern to the empire" In
the same month a protocol between
the two countries stated: '"rhe tm-
periaI governuent of Japan definitely
guarantee the Independence and ter-s
ditorial integrity Of the Korean enc /.
pire." ss
Now comes q very different note.
after the victory over
In August, 1906. the renewed
treaty Of alliance with aGssst British.
says: Japan possessing paramount