FINANCE, TRADE, AND WAR.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1664, 20 January 1904, Page 12

FINANCE, TRADE, AND WAR.

It has been said that the wars of the future will be fought by moans, of tariffs and commercial agents, rather than ivith old-fashioned weapons like Gatling guns, magazine rifles and. serried ranks of bayonets, and it would seem that, it is true of the wars of the present day. After much bluster and preparation, it looks ns though the tlireatened hostilities between Russia and Japan will be averted, and that the world will he spared the spectacle of a death-struggle for territory in the Far East. “The open door” to commerce is of mere importance than the possession of territory, as nations are beginning to discover; and if free ports can be secured and “spheres of influence” defined by diplomacy, there is no need to pour out blood and treasure in efforts to obtain political supremacy. We have reached the time when, in the -words of the hero of “ Locksley Hall,”

"The jingling of the guineas helps the hurt that honour feels, And the nations dp but murmur, snarling

at each others' heels.” The Government of the United States, true to the commercial instincts of the people it represents, has completely defeated Russia’s, attempt 'to make a close preserve of, Manchuria for her own trade by concluding a treaty with China, to whom Manchuria still nominally belongs, opening two ports to trade. The Emperor of Korea, succumbing doubtless to combined pressure from Britain, Japan and the United States, has agreed 'to make Wiju an open port if China consents —a condition nob likely to offer’ much difficulty. Thus, by diplomatic means, Russia will be deprived) of the fruits of. her daring aggression in Manchuria and her intrigues in Korea, and she will be compelled to pay respect to international obligations and to (those principles of common honesty which her statesmen so habitually ignore.

It would also appear that financial exigencies are powerful factors making I for peace. The' Russian people : and., press are stated to be more bellicose- ; than ever-irritated, m doubt-, by the.

diplomatic defeats their Government has suffered! ; hut the want of money to prose-cute a war against Japan is a real difficulty in the way of carrying out their warlike intentions. An attempt "was made the other day to raise a war loan for Russia in Paris, but it signally failed. The reason assigned is the existence of “a strong feeling among investors that too much French capital has already been invested in Russia”; but it may safely be said that the real reason is want of French sympathy with Russia’s aims and methods in the Far East. The friendship of Britain is of infinitely more practical value to France than that of Russia; and the "entente cordiale” recently established by King Edward and President Loubet has done much to cool the French ardour for Russia which was so pronounced two years ago. A further indication of the influence of commerce on international relations is provided by the news that French investors are much alarmed at. Russian proposals to increase the stringency of regulations against - fore gn shipping in the Czar’s dominions. On the whole, it is well that trade, shopVl be the’ dominant factor in the world’s affairs, for 110 other influence is so potent on the side of peace. Everyone will rejoice if war between Russia and Japan is averted, provided that the aggressivo Muscovite is effectually checked.