138
JAPAN AND RUSSIA.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 13th February.) A very general misapprehension seems to exist that the rupture in the relations of Russia and Japan was solely brought about by the insistence of Japan on the evacuation of Manchuria; and that had some com- promise on this delicate topic be brought about through the medium of the other Powers the danger of war would have been indefinitely postponed. The question at issue is, on the contrary, a very much wider one, and one of long standing. Those who remember the feeling aroused in England from 1866, when General CHERNAIEFF, against the direct commands of the Tsar ALEXANDER II., took possession of Khokand,
and when General KAUFMANN made his
attack on Khiva in face of the protestations to the contrary of the Russian Government,
then, the Russian Government, however peaceful might be the feelings of its in- dividual constituents, to take a backward step under the pressure of public feeling would, every Russian officer; civil or niliin tary, opines be to invite discomfiture. Russia has carefully taught her subject peoples that the only law she recognises is that of the stronger, and so plain an acknowledg- ment of weakness would be the only argu- ment, according to her own showing, needed to justify the act of rebellion. This is really the actuating motive for the late appearance of hesitation. Russia feels that she has too long inculcated the gospel of force as the only right to change now with impunity her methods, and that, as she has acted towards others, she must now expect others to act Japan's diplomacy and know- ledge of the world in the present crisis has won the admiration of the whole world by the clever way io which Russia on the horns of a dilemma, and she placed forced her into a position from which there was no escape without loss of prestige.
towards her.
[February 22, 1904.
THE WAR.
(Daily Press, 15th February.) No very startling development in affairs
for
the North has been witnessed since our issue of Saturday. The engage- ment off Aomori, in the northern part of Hondo, the main island of the Japanese Empire, shows what has become of Russia's Vladivostock squadron since the outbreak of war. The strait which runs between Hondo and Hokkaido is roughly opposite Vladivostock, some 450 miles away. Four Russian cruisers, whose names are unknowa, proceeding along the coast of Northern Japan met two steamers, one of 1,073 toas and the other of 233 tons, and sunk the larger, while the smaller escaped to Fukuyama, on the Hokkaido coast. Then, according to the telegram forwarded by the Mitsui Bussan Kaisha, the Russian torpedo-flotilla, possibly searching ships seem to have fallen in with a Japanese Russian vessels, and to have suffered so will likewise remember the warnings uttered by the better informed classes, and the
heavily as to lose three of their number. Without details this is rather hard to indifference of the mob, at the moment the There has been shown a disposition in understand, unless the torpedo-boats suc ruling power at home. England in fact was certain quarters to attribute to England a
ceeded in delivering a night attack on their in the throes of a revolution, none the less desire to push Japan forward, and compel larger foes. Official confirmation must be real that it was bloodless, and forgot for the her to take on her shoulders the burden of awaited, and we have yet to hear the Rus- time the interests of the Empire, and the the day, while she herself stands at one side sian version. As regards the Port Arthur Tsars were too feeble at home to put auy to enjoy the possible benefits of the fight fighting, we now have, by the courtesy of effective check on the actions of their con- much as did Germany during the Crimean the Japanese Consul, the substance of tumacious commanders abroad. Neither War; and seemingly the manner in which Admiral Togo's official report. It does not can afford to look back at the period with England has hitherto refrained from taking add much to our knowledge, but helps to feelings of altogether unmixed satisfaction;
a hind, outwardly at least, in the game
correct previous information. The Russian England has bad to pay the penalty in a might seem to lend some countenance to vessels succeeded in gaining safety in the long and costly war for the preservation of the suggestion. There are, however, other inner harbour of Port Arthur on the 9th her colonial empire, while Russia has sur- considerations which anyone who has care instant. Admiral Togo, who is the Naval vived to see her home empire reduced to a fully studied the course hitherto adoptel by Commander-in-Chief on the Japanese side, stato bordering ou revolution, and the power Japan must see were influential in shaping confines himself to stating the Japanese of her Tsars reduce to a stage not seen England's line of action. It is, for instance, losses, which were very slight-four men since the time of the last successors of the evident that if Eugland had joined Japan killed and fifty-four wounded-and does not Imperial KARL. Like the Carlovingian in playing a similar game of bluff and guess at the Russian figures; nor does he monarchs the Turs have been seeking by bluster to that adopted by Russia she would, say that any Russian ships were badly dis- conquests beyond their powers abroad to
so far from helping, have seriously inter-abled, though this we know from Ad'niral make up for the rottenness within. The fered with the effect of Japan's masterly ALEXIEFF's admissions. Of course there inglorious overrunning of the Khanates only diplomacy. But there is another reason, may have been more in the report on this served to inflame the lust of conquest for probably more powerful with our hone point. It does not seem that the entrance its own sake, and so, while at home the statesmen. Russia's recent course of con- to Port Arthur harbour is blocked by a fabric of empire was yielding before the cor- duct has been as offensive to England as it sunken warship, as alleged in some tele. ruption and decay of the court, abroad the has been to Japan herself. Her intrigues in grams. The Japanese, after their victorious boundaries of the state were being continu- Afghanistan, in Persia, and lately in Tibet, brush with the two Russ an vessels off ally advanced; but this absorption of the have placed England in the position of Chemulpo and their landing at that port, neighbouring territories had within itself having to take up the affair in her own have now occupied Seoul, and are no doubt the true elements of weakness, nor was any interest. The points here are too preparing to meet aby Russian land advance. attempt made to consolidate the conquests. serious, and we may add, too personal to Since we heard of a Russian concentration The Khanates, thirty years after their permit any British Minister to allow them in the Yalu Valley we have had no news of nominal annexation, are internally as un- to be mixed up with any outside question. Russia's activity in that quarter. It is im- settled as they were in the days of their If, in fact, the attempted wrongs on the part possible to believe that she is not active, former Mohammedan rulers, and the people of Russia should compel us to take up arms are still as rude and unsettled. On one point on our own account our Ministers are wise alone is there any unanimity of feeling, and in determining that the ground of quarreling. that is in their intense hatred and contempt shall be clear and distinct. If Russia have for their present rulers. Every attempt to many sins of commission or even omission to extend the rule of the Tsar in these regions answer for with respect to Japan, she has has only had the effect of weakening that at least as many to atone for in her rule by increasing the number of the dis- relations towards England. We may lay contented; the wiser heads amongst the to one side any suggestion as to being Russians have for some years foreseen influenced in our relations towards Russia weakness, but amidst by any feeling of panic. We have studied the general madness their voices have Russin's points of strength as well as those been stifled, while on the continually of her weakness, and are not likely to be decreasing number of the well affect led into any contest unprepared. If unfor- el is being thrown the ever-growing tunately Russia, in her desire to cut a way birden of maintaining the stability of the out of an entanglement entirely of her own entire structure. But even wiser and cooler weaving, should not comprehend the advi heads than at present conduct the affairs of sability of stopping in time, we are quite the empire may well be affrighted at the prepared, with or without Japin, to leave our outlook, and there is little doubt that the quarrels to the final arbitrament of war principal impelling fore actuating at the If Russia feel that her recent policy is of a moment the advisers of the Tsar is fear, a
nature to enable her to take up arms with a conscious feeling that if once the vis inertia easy conscience, she will explain, what of advance were from any cause checked, are the considerations that entitle her the opposing forces would instantly take to a calm and dispassionate hearing advantage of the lull to drive back the and may rest assured that for war for hitherto irresistible torrent. To expect, its own sake we have no longing.
this
cause
|
however.
The news from S. Petersburg is interest-
a
Consternation reigns, & panic is occurring on the Bourse, Government securities are experiencing heavy falls, and some banks are on the verge of ruin. The successes of Japan have struck Ri sia "all of a heap." The Tsar is credited with a ridiculous speech to the effect that " treacherous foe has in the darkness of the night attacked our fortress (?and) flest." It appears as if the Tsar expected the Japanese to invite his fleet out from Port Arthur or, as in the old Maori days in New Zealand, to fix a day on which they would be willing to come and
fight there. But the Taar is now
discredite EL very much sonage. He might well think of his speech a month ago in the Council Chamber at S Petersburg, "Am I the Emperor of Rus- sia or am I Hot? Am I the Emperor of Peace, or am I not?" The Emperor of Peace has allowed his Ministers to force a little nation into war, and now does not like the consequences. The Tsar NICHOLAS stands revealed as a weakling. He may
per-