Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1947-06-01

l.
again controlled the Chinese East
ern Railway.
The Far Eastern Republic of ST.
IBERIA, a non-communist govern
ment which had been formed under
the leadership of Krosnoschekoff,
was Incorporated into the Soviet
Union November Is, 1922.
And so Russia gradually expand
ed throughout the Far East, not
forcefully annexing territory, but
increasing trade relations, spon-
soring Chinese Commercial
growth, etc. Mr. Milivoy. Stanoye-
vich states that Russia has WIN
ming way with Orientals. Russia
can be more diplomatic somehow,
carry on with more splendor and
majesty, and also soothe hurt
pride or straighten entanglements
better than the more blunt
straightforward Western states
men. He also assures us that Rus
sian aims in the Far East were
purely cultural, that political or
territorial advantages were gained
only in protection of Russias ter
ritorial integrity. Russia has al
ways come to the aid of subjected
peoples-Balkans and Mongols,
and secured nothing for herself,
but only fought to assuage the
downtrodden and Inundated peo-
pies; . fought for justice and
humanity" - It is difficult to
match some actions with this
statement of policy.
Japanese interest IN the affairs
of the Far East developed even
in pre-restoration days when the
Outer Western clans began to
trade with the continent against
all efforts at isolation by the To-
kugaWa. The island of Sakhalin
was known but not occupied or ac
tivley governed under the Toku-
gaWa Shogunate. Little by little
the economic change evidenced by
the growth of a money economy
aided Japan in reaching out to
other lands. With the Meiji Resto-
ration came the building of a mod
ern country preparing for expan-
sion and enrichment.
Japan's neighbor Korea was the
natural object. of any expansion,
and also was bridge between
other Oriental countries and ia
pan. So Japan desired control of
Korea SO it could never threaten
her safety. In 1876 a japanese.
Korean treaty proclaimed the in
dependence of Korea as did an
American-Korean treaty in 1882.
These moves seemed to nullify
Chinese interests and claims of SUI
zerainty over the country.
Japan feared Russian domina-
ton of China, which if Korea
were Chinese territory, would in
effect make Korea Russian. In
fact Russia did enter the situa-
ton in 1884 when she planned to
send officers to reorganize the Ko-
rean army, and wanted the use of
Port Lazareff. However, British
protests prevented the fulfillment
of these measures.
Chinese-Japanese rivalry in ko-
rea finally led to the war of 1894.
the japanese victory, and the
Treaty of Shimonoseki. April II,
1895, which again proclaimed the
independence of Korea. Japan
made territorial gains by this
treaty-Formosa and the Pesca-
dores.
Russian activity in the Far East
created uneasy tension among the
Western powers. This atmosphere
led to the creation of the Anglo
Japanese Alliance of 1902 between
Japan and Great Britain. Britain
felt she had to check Russia to
prevent domination of that power
in Picking.
With Russia continually expand
ing in Manchuria and Japan grow
ing more dominant and demanding
it seemed inevitable that these
two powers would find their in
terests overlapping. Negotiations
were entered into, but failed and