There is nothing fortuitous about the extreme cordiality with which the Emperor of Germany paid personal attention to Prince and Princess Arisugawa in though reports have it that the the fooling of respect and amity which characterises the relations of the 1m-
1 Houses of the two countries, and it of friendship that binds the peoples with each other are esta facts of long standing; so observes the semi-official Kokumin." "When a strong state of the Far East anda great Power of Europe," says the journal, "cultivate friends 1d the of mutual reliance, none will fail to see that the world has gained a great guarant to its peace, and it will not be the Imp ial Houses, the Governments, and 5; the peoples of the two countries only, that would rejoice at the felicitous way in which events are now forming themselves." This journal then proceeds to point out that when Russia's star was still twinkling in the political firmament of East Asia, any countries which did not particularly dispute with the northern Empire were regarded as wheedling to St. Petersburg and they have incidentally had difficulties with.other countries. But thanks to the continued defeats both on land and sea, Russia has been incapacitated from keeping up her old gorgeous status. Russia is thus threatened with loss of status and it is not too much to say that she does not exist in Europe. Germany has been formerly subjected to constant pressure on two sides, with a powerful Russia on one hand and a formidable France on the other; and she is now breathing free and feeling stronger with her copartners in the Triplice and other nations on the Baltic, because of Russia's _pro-sent discomfiture. The "Kokumin" then opines that the relations between Japan and Germany in Europe are very close in respect of civilisation audscience as well as in commercial transactions. In China, all actions taken by Japan and the two' Anglo-Saxon nations are now always endorsed by the Wilhelmstrasse. The German authorities also seem to share profits with the Japanese Government or people in the arrangements in Shantung province. Thus Japan and many are destined to come to closer connections and withal it is imperative that Germany and other Powers interested in China will entertain similar sentiments for the preservation of the open door and equal opportunity for into national commerce, in consequence of a great political and commercial renovation. In this respect, the visit of Admiral Prince Arisugawa, though nominally a matter of courtesy, might be of very hearty consequences.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.