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Enclosure
(Translation from
Chinese Newspaper)
The news of peace with France, followed almost immediately by the settlement of the Japan difficulty, filled us at first with joy, and after reflecting on the situation, our first feeling was intensified. The bless- ings of peace and the miseries of war are beyond description, and this Franco-Chi- nese war was ruinous to both sides. To have it ended and a good understanding with Japan secured at the same time, was sufficient canse. of joy. Our subsequent reflection was upon the external danger which still threatens ns from Russia. Rus- sia is now leading on the Cossacks into Afghanistan, and threatening British India. Great Britain is wide awake to the perfidy and rapacity of Russia, and is preparing with great enthusiasm to repel her aggres
sion by sea and by land. But Russian ag- gression is not confined to the British fron- tier, and a war between Russia and Great Britain must have disastrous effects on China and Japan whichever way it issues. If Great Britain cannot beat Russia, much less can China or Japan; and Russia will be sure to turn her victorious forces agaiust
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war.
If she is baffled in the struggle with Britain, she will s ek her consolation in further encroachments on her weaker foes. But this reflection that Russin, the great robber of Asin, is the common enemy of England, China, and Japan, naturally sug gested an alliance between the three to repel aggression. And the thought of such an alliance eutered upon at this crisis, and the glorious results which might follow from it, was what turned our first feeling of joy into exultation. In the friendship of England lies the safety of China and Japan against Russia; and to secure this there should be no time lost in proffering help to England in the present impending The very announcement of this policy on Our part would greatly strengthen England's hands, and dis- courage Russia. It might even have the effect of averting war for the present. But by all means let the alliance be made and openly declared at once. In- dia, China, and Japan united need fear no aggression of Russia. Divided, each may find it hard to hold her own, but making common cause against Russia, they can defy her. Let other nations that share not our common danger remain neutral. Germany and Austria probably will. Turkey and Great Bri. Persia may do as they choose. tain, China, and Japan, by now combining together, can without other help secure the lasting peace of the whole continent of Asia,
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