Ir Russia has not during the last few months been doing her best to keep herself nominally in the, right by provoking Japan to declare war, her diplomatic action has been carried on.much less astutely than usual, The reassuring statements that have Continental, ana espevially., in, the from time to time in the, German, Press have, it would seem, emanated from St. Petersburg, and have been sent out as part of the scheme to justify Russia when the rupture comes; she will refer to these statements as evidence that she has long done her best to.avert hostilities. 'To a certain extent and superficially, this is true; Russia' consistent endeavour has been. to secure everything that a successful war. would' give her without the, danger and expense of a war. Her procrastination has farther strengthened her "position in any case; she has day by day extended her hold on China's. three Eastern provinces and her influence over Corea, so, that she starts on the war, if it must come, with' the advantage of possession, which is nine points of the law: and if the war should go against her, she may hope that she will not have to disgorge everything. Heer losses will-look so large that the generosity, of Japan may be relied on to leave something. She does not want to disgorge, and she does not want. to fight for.what she has taken, and so she adds
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.