Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1903. Russia and China.

Manawatu Herald, 30 April 1903, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1903. Russia and China.

An, the news that has been lately cabled to this Colony has foreshadowed the last action of Russia, and the ultimate throwing of the cloak of her designs on China’s territory can have caused few surprise. It will be remembered that Russia hustled the Sultan of Turkey into permitting her to send gunboats from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean, though it was agreed by the treaty of Paris that she should do no such thing. Russia has been hastening all her war vessels to the China seas so as to be prepared to defend her action by force, should it be necessary. China has been roughly treated by all the stronger Powers who have nibbled a bit off her wherever they could, as in 1885 Great Britain got Upper Burmah from her, then France got the cession of Tonking, and the war in 1894 with Japan caused her to lose Formosa and the creation of Korea into an independent State. Germany seized Kiaochow Bay, then Russia occupied Port Arthur which Great Britain believed she checkmated by leasing Wei-Hai-Wei, which has not turned out to be worth the time and money cost upon it. While these little pickings have been going, under some excuse or another, Russia has been extending her frontiers, as the phrase is politely used to imply stealing her neighbour’s property, until she secured military occupation of Manchuria and the town of Nieuchang. When the Powers ceased fighting the Chinese in punishment for the murder of the accredited representatives to China, and it was decided to evacuate China, it was understood that Russia would also retire, and China has been urged by the desirers of the “open door” policy in China to insist upon Russia evacuating Manchuria. At last all the trouble is just shewing up as Russia has felt herself strong enough to refuse to do so unless China agrees to practically giving Russia all the advantages she wants in that region and will forbid others to enter, All the Powers are resenting this action as being detrimental to their interests and against the promises made by Russia, and a joint representation by Great Britain, America, and Japan to firmly insist in non-acquiescence in Russia’s conditions. This, at the moment, is bow the matter stands, and though there is no doubt but that 1 China wUI speak bravely, we know | she has no means to enforce herwill

as she has only loUr new cruisers for a navy. It is known that Japan has always viewed with disfavour the advance of Russia into Manchuria, as she looks upon exploiting of that country for trade, and it was this that caused her at the conclusion of her war with China to insist upon Corea being made an independent State. With the hordes of Russians in Manchuria the little State on the mainland opposite Japan would have an exceeding likelihood of being swallowed up. It appears probable that Japan is ready to dp more, "than talk, as she has-sent her War vessels to Nieu-ohang to remind Russia that she has a fleet and has men who know how to work them too, and it may probably turn out that a treaty made between China and Japan to expel Russia from where she is not wanted, when the forces drilled and led by the Japanese would give more trouble to Russia than she at present thinks theywould, besides her being backed, as looks likely, by Britain and America. To succeed Russia would have to create a bigger disturbance in the West, to that which she seems likely to do, to draw such forces from the Eastv We expect the show of a firm, united, front may secure China a clearance of the Russian from her soil. ‘ To the whole world the question is of very much moment as year by year the industrial nations are doing their best to secure new markets, and most of the real trouble with China has been trade more than Missionaries, and it appears intolerable after this expenditure of blood and material to secure these objects a large portion of the country should te spftmtU’ nnnmpriated by one nation. Li.-lure us a very dangerous position and a very important one for the well-being of all but Russia. ’