The Chefoo correspondent of the Asahi" has had an interview with the celebrated "Times" correspondent _at Peking, Dr. Morrison, and he sends his paper a report of it, of which the following is a rough translation To preserve her own e€: tence Japan must fight Russi Although war is a serious thing which should not be talked of impetuously, yet there are occasions when it is preferable to peace, and when a country must fight to preserve her reputation for independence. Itis needless to say that Jupan's existence threatened by lier constant increase of population, unless she can find an outlet for this increase. Corea is reengnived as being under the influence of Jap"n and providing the required outlet, tut the holding of the Lisotung Peninsula by a Ru-sian military. force will mean the encroachment of Russia on Corea.
Not to fight puts Japan in the same ion as if she were defeated If Japan does not fight now, Russia will certainly increase her fleet in the East, and will annex Corea in the same way as she has absorbed Manchurin. Japan will then be obliged to withdraw permanently into her own islands. Even if the war goes ayniust Japan, she will only be forced to give up Manchuria and Corea own territory will remain to her. " Will not her position then be the same as if she had not fought at all? Now is the time for Japan to fight when her success is quite It is a mistake to think that Russia will not fight.
"It is stated that Russia tion of meeting Japan in the fie fact of her building big bart of Manchuria, and increasing navy in the East, cannot mean anything but preparation to drive Japan off the continent. She is only awaiting her opportunity.
The age of the Japanese warships must be remembered.
"The battleships_and cruisers which form the strength of Japan's navy are now fully able to confront the Russian ships, but it must be remembered shat in a few years they will become obsolete, while Russia will be constantly sending out new Ships so as to overpower the Japanese navy. Consequently every delay increases the difficulty Japan will have in fight Russia on tie sea.
What Japan should den ud of Russia.
"No good will result. if Japa accepts Russia's promises. Russia has built barracks Linotung to accommodate thousand soldiers, and she is the construction ut a new camp about one and a-half square, and even if she should withdraw her troop she can easily convert the so-called railway guard into a garrison. Furthermore, since she has the right to keep as she likes at Port Arthur and it is vain to attempt to words alone. Russia turned Japan out of Manchuria on the ground that the possession of Manchuria by any F Power was a menace to the peace "f th Japan, who his been patiently watching Russia, because it is Russia's treacherous action that really menaces the peace of Far Eat, is entitled to demand of Russ that. she shall limit the size of her fe in these waters, that she all, of course, evacuate Manchuria en return Port Arthur and to China, These dem"nds, I hop be approved by the Powe:
Japan should send troops into Corea.
"Japan while propusing the above would do well to send troops into Corea to confront the Rt n aggression. Russia would never consent to this proposition, and then war will be declared, The probable attitude of the Powers.
"No Power will assist Russia if it is asked because it would be forced to fight Great Britain in accordance with the Anglo-Japanese Allianes. Now Russia, who is proud of being one of the largest countries in the world, would not dare to ask the assistance of another Power, because she would lose all her reputation if she were obliged to ask outside assistance to fight Japan whom she has always despised as a potty antagonist. It-was publicly known that neither Fravce vor Germany would have taken part in an armed interference when Japan was forced Lo give Neither of the above pry interest in fight would not caro to x their own colonies in China, which could be easily attacked by a Japanese fore.
The fall of Port Arthur would end the War.
"If Japan sends her troops into Manchuria from northern Corea by land, and having taken possession of Harbin cuts the communication between Liantung and Russia, and bombards Port Arthue with her fleet, Russin would be obliged to sue for peace xs she did at Sebastopol. The war would no! go on for years a8 many people predict.
The peace conditions.
"Supposing that Russia after the fall of Port Arthur asks for an amicable settlement, what conditions will Japan propose that Russia will be reluctantly compelled to accede to? Japan will take Russia's place temporarily. To give details, Japan Will under any circumstances occupy. the Lixotung peninsula, and hold all the rights which Russia has claimed, while the administration of Manchu will be rsturned to China, end a limit will be imposed on the Russian naval force in the Pacific, Thus Russin's aggressive policy in the Far Kast will be checked fur thirty years or more, as her activity in Eastern Europe was checked for twenty years by the Crimean War.
The subsequ ut attitude of the Powers.
"Would France and Germany help Russia in the pence negotiations if they ket back from interfering in the war? Now if we suppose that the force of France and Russia combined is equal to that of Great Britain and Japan, yet Russia having: once been beaten by Japan. woul be unable to make any herd against Japan Great Britain, even with the help of It is certain, than, that no Power under these conditions would embark in rined interference The reorg n of Manchuria.
"The Manchurian provinces are too nto keep order in the n troops at her own expense would do better to hand over the the rights which Russin has been exercising there, Japan would need a vast amount of money to reconstruct Manchuria, Nobody would agree to lend Japan money with the knowledge that it was to be used for war purposes, but as von as Japan defeats Tussin and thus ments her own reputation, she will have no diffi ty in raising what money ants. he Customs" receipts at and in Corea might be mad+ the security for'a loan, and the Customs in Corea alone, if properly administered, would bring in ten million yen a year.
The advantage of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance.
"Great Britain could undoubtedly have conquered South Africa in six months had she had an alliance with Japan before the war broke out, as the Transvaal was only
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.