Count WitteCOUNT WITTE[To face page 384]
COUNT WITTE[To face page 384]
From an international point of view it was desired that the situation, at any rate as far as appearances went, should remain unchanged. What was aimed at was equilibrium, not preponderance. Opinions which made themselves heard, not only in Central Europe, but also in the English and American newspapers, showed more and more plainly how critical the situation would be if Japan alone possessed undisputed paramount power in Eastern Asia. The leading papers, which at first had been so enthusiastic and described with such unbounded admiration Japan's gallant battles and unexpected victories, grew gradually reserved as the question of how far Japan's ambitions might one day extend, became doubtful.
Economic acquisitions were feared even more than the actual strategic conquests. Already a portion of the commerce of the Far East has left European hands and fallen to the share of Japan, and evidently this will more and more be the case. The vicinity of the country, the cheap rate of wages, the simplicity of social conditions and those of labour, even at the present day, all contribute to give Japan the advantage in the competition. What their Government chiefly covet, at any rate just now, are newcommercial spheres—safe markets—to profit by the great wealth of neighbouring states. By adroit commercial treaties with China, exploitation of the mineral riches of Manchuria and the Korean mines, Japan may, in a very short time, not only make good her war expenditure, but consolidate the economical condition of the empire and increase the general well-being.
From a political point of view, it can no longer be denied that the Pacific Ocean will be, at least on the eastern half, dominated by the Japanese fleet. In short, it is this point which is the essential one.
As I have already stated, Japan's schemes of conquest, if she had any, would be directed less towards the north than towards the south. Siberia never seems to have had a great attraction for her, and I believe that even Manchuria, together with the Amur Provinces, leaves her indifferent. She intends to let the original possessor, China, reconquer it one day. Her far-seeing policy seems to be governed by the assumption that the Eastern Asiatic continent belongs to her neighbours, the Chinese. For herself, she wants to secure the position of a great Sea Power. Her island home, and more especially her sea-faring population, tend to guide her in this direction. As factors to this end they have not only subjective competency, butthe greatest objective possibilities. The Island Empire of the Pacific is still, to a great extent, with all her wealth, aterra incognita. We may say the same of the South Sea Islands, which are mostly only under the nominal dominion of the white races. Honolulu and the Philippines might one day be included in the dominions of this newly-arisen great Power; and her sphere of action will possibly create a yet larger circle.
Australasia, even, might become the ultimate aim of Japanese Imperialism and commercialism. The climatic conditions of the northern parts are such that Europeans find it difficult to settle there, and in the limitless sugar and coffee plantations the employment of white labour has always been unsuccessful, in spite of every effort. The number of the white inhabitants is still very small, although the continent was first occupied over a hundred years ago. The original native tribes have slowly died out; but the new settlers, over this whole extent of enormous territory, do not number as many as the population of London. Sparsely peopled, she stands there isolated and unfortified, defenceless, so to speak, in the midst of the sea.
The actual guarantee for her independence is offered by the circumstance that she forms part of the British Empire. This dominion is ofcourse nominal; still, it is enough, at any rate at present, to protect the continent from foreign attack. But it is not hard to foresee what would happen to Australia, with the adjacent islands, Tasmania and New Zealand, should she be severed from Great Britain. Indeed, it is much to be feared that if ever the present alliance between England and Japan were to change into hostility, the former pupils and friends might be obliged to turn their arms against their instructors and allies.
Now, however, a truce has been declared in Eastern Asia. The Peace of Portsmouth has been concluded, and the consequences of this recent event will undoubtedly be greater than the bloodiest battles of the past few months, although it occasioned less noise. I must acknowledge that I am somewhat astonished that the world which welcomed with such jubilation Japan's victories at sea, seems to fail to understand her greatness in the field of diplomacy. Yet nothing was harder than to find such a solution of the various antagonistic problems as should ensure a free path for progress in the future. After such glorious battles, after the unchecked progress of an army intoxicated with success, it must have been very hard to halt, and to utilize this interlude for future strengthening and eventual expansion. Nothing could really have hindered the marchto Harbin or to the Baikal district. Even the occupation of Vladivostok was merely a question of time. But, as has already been stated, it was not to Japan's interest to press northwards, and still less to carry the day by sowing the seeds of a yet greater hatred, and exciting the conquered country to a policy of revenge.
That, probably, was the reason why the Japanese gave up the war indemnity, and hope to refund it themselves from the agricultural wealth of the strip of land annexed, instead of from the Russian coffers. Japan did not desire either to increase the animosity of her enemy or to lose the sympathy of her allies. Above all, she abstained from rousing hostility and jealousy on too many sides before the definite attainment of her goal.
The self-command evinced by the Japanese is the greatest feature that, in the whole course of her history, we have had occasion to admire, it is even greater than her bravery, and this same attribute was manifested in a remarkable manner during the entire war. In the battles, whether in their dealings with prisoners and wounded, in slight advantages, or in important victories, they strove to manifest their moderation, self-control, and humanity.
Komura's task was no easier than Oyama's or Togo's. To accept and carry into executionthe peace, in its present form, must have been all the more distasteful in that the whole country was against it and expressed its opinion in an exceedingly hostile manner.
Yet, had the populace been more deliberate in its judgment, they must have appreciated the diplomacy of their statesmen no less than the strategy of their generals. They may, moreover, rest assured that the present peace, though it may appear somewhat unjust to them, will prove to be of as great benefit and of as sure advantage as if better terms had been arranged. Was it not so, in the case of past victorious wars, especially as regards the terms of peace concluded with little glory and renown at Simonosaki and Chifu, which yet contributed so much to heighten the army's thirst for combat, and to develop the patriotism of the nation? Undoubtedly Japan is reckoning upon future eventualities and struggles in which she will demand yet more courage from her army and even greater enthusiasm from her sons.
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But for the moment, at least, we may look with confidence to the Peace, and hope that Nippon, which has won the admiration of the whole world in the late war, will show herself not less capable in time of peace. May she assist the countries that have come within hersphere—especially Korea—to a higher development! May she improve the conditions of agriculture, industry, as well as of culture, and truly strengthen all those moral, ethical, and spiritual aspirations which alone make for the positive weal of mankind! In one word—may the Land of the Rising Sun earnestly strive to cast rays of light on Eastern Asia!
INDEX
Agriculture, system of, in China,119;in Korea,218,226Alexandrovsky château, style,4,9;situation,5,9;garden,5;drawing-room,9;study,11Altai range,41Amur district, incorporated into the RussianEmpire,59,362Angara river,49Anglo-Korean commercial agreement,224Annam, under French administration,362Annenkoff, General,64Art, character of Chinese,182,348-50;of Japanese,278Asia,32Atmolinsk,36Australasia, the future of,386
Baikal Lake, crossing the,51-3,55;islands,52;railway line,52Balagansk,42Baltic, the,59Baskir plateau,32,58;character and dress of the people,32;climate,33Bikanir desert,64Black Sea,59Bokhara,36Boxer movement of 1900,155Buddhists,58Buriats,43;their appearance,58;dress,58;religion,58"Bushido," establishment of,316;definition of the word,316;code of moral principles,317;origin,317;unwritten laws,320;principles of justice,320;courage,321;honour,322;"hara-kiri," or suicide,323-6;"kataki-ushi," or vengeance,326-8Butter, export of,40
Calico, sale of, in Korea,268Cemetery, Portuguese, at Pekin,167Chan-chi-Tung, Viceroy, hischaracteristics,136,352;attempts at reform,136,352;writings,137;political views,352;mercantile spirit,353;views on education,353;extracts from his work on "China'sOnly Hope,"353-5Chefoo, Treaty of,155Chemulpo,225,229Ch'ien-men, or Great Street, in Pekin,168Ch'ien-men San-tan Bridge,168Chilkoff, Prince, Minister of Railways,his characteristics,20;mechanical training,21;his study,21;management of the railway transport duringthe war,21n.Chin-Chan Mountain,42China,41;method of agriculture,119;suzerainty of Korea,200;system of education,209;language,211;outbreak of war in 1894 with Japan,231;magnitude,340;territorial losses,362;payment of war indemnities,362;relations with Japan,363-7;originality and initiative,364-7;delay in reorganization,369;advocates of reform,370China, Emperor of, imprisoned,161,187;failure of his struggle for freedom,187China, Dowager Empress of, her summer residence,160;appearance and dress,183;character,183;reception of the representatives of the Powers,184;interest in the ladies,186;diplomatic ability,186"China's Only Hope," extracts from,353-5Chinampoo,225Chinese, relations with Russians,94,119;capacity for work,127;energy and industry,176;character of their art,182,348-50;characteristics,341-3;superiority of the native servant,342;labour question,344;virtues of the lower middle class,344;honesty of tradesmen,345;guild or club houses,346;musical and theatrical entertainments,347;intellectual capacity,351,371;ideal of happiness,369,378;dress,373;family affection,373;their view of Anglo-Saxons,374;care of the poor,375;number of Christians,376;schools,377Ching, Prince, Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs,177;his appearance,177;characteristics,178Chitta,59Cholera, epidemic of, at Mukden,105Chopsticks, use of,148Chunchuses, band of,82,118Clement V, Pope, appoints the first Bishop of Pekin,376Confucius, influence of his teaching,159Convicts, number of,43Cossacks, their characteristics,54;escort of,111;hilarity,115;steeplechase115-18Cryptomerea, avenue of,302
Dalny,123Datshas,3Dogs of Korea, their character,256-8;of Manchuria,69Dostoievsky, on the miseries of Omsk,57
Earth, Temple of the, in Pekin,172Eastern Chinese Railway Co.,59,63,76,125;system of construction,64;festivities on the transfer to China,129Education method of, in Japan,292;in Korea,209,234,238,272Erbolinsk,42
Formosa,284Funeral, torchlight procession in Seoul,258-62Funerals, style of, in Korea,220Fusan,225,229
Gardens, style of, in Japan,310Gen-San,225Genghis Khan,61Germany, trade with Korea,226Gen-senplant, value of, in Korea,194,227Gobi desert,59,64Goods train, travelling by,65Guild or club houses in China,346
Halung-kiang,75Han river,193,229Hang-Jang,200Hankau, club house at,347Hankau-chwang,129,131"Hara-kiri," or suicide,323-6Haras,69Harbin,59Heaven, Temple of, in Pekin,171;in Seoul,252Honolulu,386Hwang-ssu temple,170
Insatsu Kyoku, or Printing Office in Tokio,294Irkutsk,39,42;characteristics,42;inhabitants,43,50;railway station,44-6;impressions of,48-50;attractions,50;Imperial Opera House,50;Chinese colony,50Ivasaki, Baron, his articles on Japan,290,368
Jade Canal,142Japan trade with Korea,225;outbreak of war in 1894 with China,231;administration of Korea,232,235;temples,276;lacquer-work,277;monuments,277;character of art,278-81;Katsura-no-Rikyu Palace,278;tea ceremonies,281,322;construction of railways,284;telegraph lines,285;telephones,285;electricity,286;steamship service,286-8;reorganization of the country,289-91,314,332,367;education,292;Tokio University,292;character of the military equipment,296,316;reception at the Yeddo Palace,301-10;avenue of cryptomerea,302;style of gardens,310;history,315;system of vassalage,315;theSamuraismilitary code,316-23,334;definition of the word "Bushido,"316;origin,317;"hara-kiri," or suicide,323-6;"kataki-ushi," or vengeance,326-8;creed,330;military discipline,333;religion,336-8;Shintoism or nature-worship,337;imitations and appropriations,364-7;development,367;relations with China,363-7;conclusion of peace with Russia,381;motives for desisting from war,383-5;moderation and self-control,382,388;policy,385,387-9Japan, Emperor of,305;audience with,305-7;his interest in various questions,306Japan, Empress of, audience with,308-10;her dress,308;characteristics,308Japanese, their force of imagination,280,282;characteristics,280-3,289,296,311,315,341;gift of adaptation,291,315;causes of their success,315;faculty of assimilation,315,367;power of discipline,315;courteousness,322;conventional smile,329;creed,330;sword,331;fondness for study,335;religious views,337Jasper, waters of,143
Kai-Teng,200Kalmuks, the,43,58Kanks,40Kao-Li,199Kasha,67Kataki-ushi, or vengeance,326-8Katsura-no-Rikyu Palace,278Kharbin,70-73Ki-Tsze, founder of Korea,197Kiahta,51Kien-lung, Empress,170Kirghiz, steppes of the,58Kirin,68,75Kirinsk,42Kinshiu railway,284Kobe,284,339Koerber, Professor,294Korea, its origin,189,197;difference between ancient and modern,190;situation,192;area,192;mines,192,227;rivers,193,229;climate,193;flora,193;value of thegen-senplant,194,227;timber,194;animals,195;minerals,195;founder of the nation,197;law forbidding the writing of history,198;diaries of court officials,198;three kingdoms,199;history,199-203;under the suzerainty of China,200;system of administration,203-5;number of governorships,204;organization of the army,204;corruption of officials,205;system of justice,206;criminal cases,207;practice of torture,207;prisons,207;methods of punishment,208;education,209,234,238,272;language,211;Emperor Li Hsi,211;revolution of 1895,213;family life,214;condition of women,215;rights of marriage,216;wedding ceremony,217;methods of agriculture,218,226;work and recreations of women,219;amusements of men,219;music,220;funerals,220;children,221;schools,221;houses,222;food,222;dress,222;games,223;recitations,223;relations with foreign Powers,224;trade,224-6;means of transport,227;the "Pedlars' Guild,"228;railways,229;harbours,229;money,230;independence,231;under Japanese and Russian influence,232,235;character of the people,233,237;college at Yong Sang,238;dogs,256;governed by Japan,362Korea, Crown Prince of,273Korea, Emperor of, his attempts at reform,212;intrigues and plots against his life,213;sons,213;his power,269;appearance,270;costume,270;interest in the West,270-2Korea, Empress of, murdered,267Koreans, their origin,195;physical characteristics,196,233,237;intellectual powers,238;costume,244,248,263;method of education,252,272Krasnoyark,40Ku-hung-ming, extracts from his "Letters from aViceroy's Residence,"356-60Kublai Khan,376Kunsan,225Kuropatkin, General,124Kwo-tsze-chien temple,170Kyoto,284
Lacquer-work in Japan,277Lama of Lhassa, pilgrimages to,59Lama monastery in Pekin,170Legations in Pekin,152Lena,41"Letters from a Viceroy's Residence," extracts from,355-60Li Cheng Ying,211Li Hsi, Emperor of Korea,211Li-Hu,80Li Hung-Chang, Viceroy, his country house,132;character as a financier,132;development of Tien-tsin,134Li Ping,211Liao river,124,126Liaotung, peninsula,122,125;gulf of,124Liaoyang, bridge near, carried away by the floods,71,120;crossing the,121Lotus Lake,160
Maisan Hill,160,162;origin of the name,162Manchuria,59;journey across,66-121;refreshment rooms,67;capital,68;inhabitants,69,70;homes,69;pigs,69;poultry,69;dogs,69;mineral wealth,75;size,75;population,75;fertility,109;character of the scenery,110;occupied by Russia,231Manchury,59Manchus, their characteristics,70,110;mode of locomotion,90;relations with the Russians,94;fatalism,105Mandarin, mode of travelling,113Marsanka,28Masampo,225Métropole, Hôtel du, arrival at,47Mikado, audience with,306SeeJapan, Emperor ofMin, Prince, his typical old Korean home,266Mines in Korea,227Ming dynasty,199Ming, General, his funeral,221Mission, Roman Catholic, at Niu-chwang,128;at Pekin, siege of the,149;at Seoul,254Mochi-Shan, coal mines at,125Moji, Straits of,285Mokpo,225Monte Corvino, appointed first Bishop of Pekin,376Moonkov-Sarde Mountain,42Moscow,26Mujiks, their character,111Mukden,68;journey to,78-86;impressions of,88;mode of locomotion,89;plan of the city,91;public edifices,92;Imperial Palace,92,97;interior,93;character of the people,94;system of local government,95;the yamen,95;reception given by the Governor,96-100;number of dishes,98;visit to the Imperial Tombs,100-4;epidemic of cholera,105;journey from,109-18Muraviev, Count,59Myssowa,55