t answer
to this is also a quotation from the distinguished and witty Chinaman
just mentioned. "The Japanese," said he, "claimed they were fighting
Russia because she was preparing to rob China of Manchuria; now they
themselves out-Russia Russia. It is much as if I should knock a man
down, saying, 'That man was about to take your watch,' and then take
the watch myself!"

The aptness of the simile is evident. My sympathy, and the sympathy of
every other American acquaintance of mine as far as I can now recall,
was with Japan in her struggle because of our hot indignation over
Russian aggressiveness. But if Japan had said, "I am fighting to put
Russia out only that I may myself develop every identical policy of
aggrandizement that she has inaugurated," it is very easy to see with
what different feelings we should have regarded the conflict.

{91}

Moreover, Japan's legitimate fruits of victory do not extend to the
control or possession of Manchuria. As one of the ablest Englishmen
met on my tour in the Far East pointed out, Japan's purposes in
inaugurating the war were four: (1) to get a preponderating influence
in Korea; (2) to get the control of the Tsushima Straits, which a
preponderating influence in Korea would give her; (3) to drive Russia
from her ever-menacing position at Port Arthur; and (4) to arrest (as
she alleged) the increasing influence and power of Russia in
Manchuria.

All these things she has gained. Furthermore, she now has actual
possession of Korea. The menace of a great Russian navy has been swept
away. Again, she has become (with the consent of England) the
commanding naval power in the eastern Pacific; and she has gained an
influence in South Manchuria at least equal to that which Russia had
previous to the war.

And yet one hears the plea that unless she gets Manchuria her blood
will have been spilt without result! Unless she can do more in the way
of robbing China than she went to war with Russia for doing, she will
not be justified!

Among representatives of five nations with whom I discussed the matter
in Manchuria I found no dissent from the opinion that Japan will never
get out of Manchuria, unless forced to do so by a speedily awakened
China or by the most emphatic and unmistakable attitude on the part of
the Powers. Chinese, English, Americans, Germans--all
nationalities--in Manchuria agree that thus far the way of Manchuria
has been the way of Korea and that only favoring circumst