IN MANCHURIA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 5, 6 July 1910, Page 7

IN MANCHURIA.

RUSSO-JAPANESE AGREEMENT. By Telegraph.— Fress Association.— Copyright

PARIS, sth July. , The Journal dcs Debats states that a Russo-Japanese agreement has been signed. ; The agreement guarantees the status quo in Manchuria, and provides that if agreements which Russia and Japan have concluded with China are menaced the parties will take measures in concert for their defence. The Journal dcs Debats regards the agreement as a final answer to China's attempts to regain a predominant position in Manchuria. It is an answer to the United States Secretary of State's proposal to internationalise business enterprises in Manchuria. In its issue of 13th April last (New Style), the well-known Prussian Liberal journal Russkoe Slovo referred to rumours regarding a Russo-Japanese alliance. It remarked : — "The political horizon, which but a short time ago appeared to be cloudless, is again beginning gradually to darken. Nevertheless, the appearance of black specks in the Far and Near East does not constitute anything unexpected. Tho unprincipled policy which is pursued by our diplomacy, guided by Ivl. Isvolsky, must inevitably elicit precisely those perils and difficulties to avoid which apparently forms the sole concern of our ruling circles. As one might expect, the conjoint departure of M. Isvolsky and Count Komura in the question of the neutralisation of the Manchurian railroads led to. a rapprochement of Russia with Japan, in wnich all the benefits are on the side of the Land of the Rising Sun, while as our share there remains merely the honour of being counted as the friend of our late enemies. The return of the Japanese Ambassador, Baron Motono, to St. Petersburg, and the mission of Prince Fushimi have given occasion for the recrudescence of persistent rumours concerning the project of a Russo-Japanese alliance treaty. The idea of such an alliance evidently emanates from the Japanese Governmental sphere, which is alarmed by the rapid growth of hostile sentiment towards the Japanese in America." Tho Russian journal then discussed tho question :" What can the Japanese obtain from us?" and arrives at these conclusions, among others: — . . . "The Japanese could secure from us nothing more than a simple promise of neutrality. We have -no fleet, and we cannot help tho Japanese to overpower the American armada. The land forces of the Japanese are ten times greater than those of America without us. It is impossible to borrow money from us. The sole way in which we can be useful to the Japanese is by placing our ports at their disposal in the event of war with America."