As to the figure that Japan makes at this time Jet me set down the curious con-lectures that a trained observer of international politics prints, He says this "Suppose Germany has some: thing to her two indifferent partners (Russia and France) in the Pacific at which, so to speak, they pricked up their ears, perceiving in it undoubted advantages to 3 hat something to-be the practical anni n of Japan as a sen power before she gets those ten new battleships now building, which are to make her Queen of the Pacific. This would fit perfectly not only with William's well-known ed absorption in the ways and means of checking the Yellow Peril, but with that unnamed second and ulterior purpose which is intuitively felt to underlie his wild whirling words at Kiel.
"Tt would not be a difficult matter to catch Japan foul next spring. Her Go-yernment, worried by fiscal troubles and an unmanageable Parliament, is likely to be betrayed into actions this winter which can serve as a pretext for a quarrel. Her occupation of Weihaiwei for example, bristles with possibilities of this sort. hol this place as a pledge for the indemnity of (40,000,000 which China is to pay in instalments within seven years. Two-sevenths of this is already paid and the third instalment is due next May.
"Suppose Germany or Russia puts into Chins's hands, then, a hundred millions instead of twenty, and bids her to pay all and summon Japan to quit Weihaiwei instanter, would it not be very bard for any Japanese government to restrain popular tary at such a trick or to adopt a tone which could not be twisted into a casus belli?
"The most ingenious and pretty check. mate to this game would be for the Englis fleet, now understood to be on the move from Hongkong, to quietly drop into Weihaiwei next week and anchor in its magni-fe ently spacious harbour for winter shelter alongside the Japanese vessels already. there, ""fes occupation could be temporary, of course just as Bussia's-in Post Arthur and Germany's in Kiaochow are temporary. Its presence there next spring, however, would Ukrow an. altogether different light' on the for fleet. Nobody, would dare. attack ian of forcing Jabin to: humbly' withdraw.
Japan if Boglish bios were riding aide by: bide with hers"
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.