RUSSIA AND THE EAST.

Southland Times, Issue 19102, 20 July 1903, Page 2

RUSSIA AND THE EAST.

The most interesting of recent events in the Far East is the Russian conference held last week at Port Arthur to decide— so the cables state— whether or not Russia should definitely annex. Mahchiiria- It appears that there are among the Czar's advisers two opposed parties*— one headed by M. de Witte, Minister of Finance, and M:' Lessar, ambassador at Pekin. and. the other headed by General Kouropatkine, Minister for War. The former. are " the peace party " referred to in the cables, and they aro said to be anxious to carry out the evacuation of Manchuria, while the latter— the military party— are in favour of annexation. What the actual decision of the conference was, it is impossible to judge from the cables, which contradict one another. On the one hand it was reported that " the general belief at Tientsin was tlrat Russia intended to make her position in Manchuria secure," while on the- other hand, liout^r's Shanghai agency reported that " the conference was expected to dcc\dp in favour of M. de Witte's peace policy of evacuation." The latest news? is* that Russia has repeated her promise to evacuate in September, and that China has promised / the United States to open the treaty ports at an early date to the wcrld's trade. This last piece of information would appear to be correct, as Saturday's cables contain some meagre particulars <.f a new agreement made and signed at Washington between the Russiuln and American representatives, by which the opening of the Chinese ports is arranged for the 28th of this month. This is i-egar-j ded as a great business triumph for the United States. At the same time Russia has scored a nominal diplo- ] inatic victory in winning over the United States " to assent to her ordcrship of Manchuria." This is very j vague, and does not throw any light ! on the decision of the conference. Reuter's Port Arthur correspondent asserts " that the immediate outcome- of the conference has been in- , creased Russian activity in Manchuria." This together with the obtain? ing of American assent to Russia's " ordership " of the province might be taken to indicate that the military party won thp day at the conference, and that there will be gradual annexation. However, evacuation in September is mentioned plainly in Saturday's cable from Washington, and Japan is said to be Avarmly complimentary to America on their success. For the* present, therefore, it would seem that the peace party in the conference carried the day. It is noteworthy that a Pekin cable states that the delegates have admitted that the contingency of war was discussed. Presumably a conflict with Japan would be the most likely war to arise, as the Japanese arc understood at Pekin to be resolved /to regard Russian encroachment in the Yalu river as the signal for war. The Yalu, it 'may be mentioned, separates Manchuria from Korea, and on its batiks are valuable timber forests, which Russia is anxious to exploit. But Japan regards with zealous eyes any attempt, however disguised, on . the part of Russia, to cross the border into Korea. What the real position is cannot be determined at present, and the fact that Russia is one of the parties to the new agreement renders it doubtful if any " real position