Some Facts Relating to the Far Eastern Question
By L. A. S.
In a recent article contributed to The Outlook, Mr. Chester Holcombe states some interesting facts bearing on the present war between Russia and Japan, which, as former secretary of the American legation at Peking, he gathered from association with leading diplomats of the Oriental nations. Japan, he says, feels that she is fighting for her national existence. In an interview some years ago with a Japanese official of high standing, in Tokyo, the latter gave this illustration of the Japanese view of the situation as it existed then. “Holding up one hand,” says Mr. Holcombe, “and separating the first and second fingers as widely as possible from the third and fourth, he said: ‘Here is the situation. These four fingers represent the four great European powers—Great Britain, Germany, France, and Russia. In the open space between them lie Japan, China, and Korea.’ Then with really dramatic force he added: ‘Like the jaws of a huge vise, those fingers are slowly closing, and unless some supreme effort is made, they will certainly crush the national life out of all three.’ He urged with great earnestness that the United States, Japan, and China should enter upon a mutual agreement—a tripartite alliance—to defend the independence and territorial integrity of Korea.” Briefly stated, some of the essential points presented by Mr. Holcombe are the following:— 1. When Japan conquered China in 1895, the treaty of peace gave to Japan the island of Formosa and a small part of Manchuria. Russia, as soon as these terms were known, served notice on Japan that “it would not be permitted to retain permanent possession of any portion of the mainland of Asia,” and gave Japan forty-eight hours in which to accept or reject this proposition. Japan was obliged to accept it. A cabinet minister at Tokyo said: “If we had only three battle-ships, we would declare war against Russia within twenty-four hours. We have but one, recently captured from China, and it will not be fit for service within six months, while the czar has six here in our harbors. What can we do but submit to this insolent threat?” 2. Japan was ordered away from Manchuria by Russia because it was the purpose of Russia, when the time for it was ripe, to annex that rich province, and also Korea, to her own domain. This is why the Russian government has within the past year endeavored to frighten China into refusal to grant to the United States two additional open ports in Manchuria. 3. This purpose of Russia was understood by Japan in 1895, and Japan also understood that if it was carried into effect, it would mean the eventual destruction of Japanese and Chinese nationality. 4. The present struggle to determine whether Manchuria shall remain Chinese or become Russian has a much broader ultimate end in view. It may be regarded as “a single test case in a broad issue which may be framed somewhat in legal form as independent national existence in the Far East versus partition and subordination to European authority,” this issue covering Japan as well as China and Korea. 5. If this issue is left to the decision of the European powers, the latter alternative will be the result. Travelling once in Japan in company with five ministers from European courts accredited to the Japanese emperor, Mr. Holcombe was told by the French minister that “it is not the policy of my government to permit the growth of China and Japan into first-class powers,” and the statement was strongly indorsed by the ministers of the other powers. 6. When the Boxer uprising was put down by the European powers, these powers “suppressed Boxers and government forces alike,” and “stripped the disturbed area of arms, and of nearly everything else.” Then they forced an agreement on China not to buy or allow to be imported, for a term of years, any munitions of war of any sort; this being done ostensibly to guard against another Boxer uprising, but really to make the Chinese government defenseless against European aggression. 7. The United States is hostile to the partition of China, and these three governments—China, Japan, and the United States—could by united action easily prevent its partition. Mr. Holcombe does not raise the question, but it is a very vital one, whether the United States will be drawn into such an undertaking. The events of recent years, and certain indications of the present moment, make the answer to this question by no means certain. 8. “China offers the richest field in all history for the hunters after plunder.” Such is the situation as it exists to-day, and such is the point of view of the7Asiatic nation which is now contending with Russia on the field of battle. The outcome will be, as the student of prophecy knows, that the way of the “kings of the East” will be prepared, and these Eastern nations will be made ready to join in the final fray of Armageddon. The present sound of war reminds us of the approach of the last great conflict, when the winds of strife shall be loosed throughout the whole earth.