登陆注册
5382300000305

第305章 CHAPTER XXXVIII(8)

In the light of a few authentic documents and many subsequent events, the outline of this plan can be traced with tolerable accuracy. In the region through which the projected railways were to run there was a large marauding population, and consequently the labourers and the works would have to be protected; and as Chinese troops can never be thoroughly relied on, the protecting force must be Russian. Under this rather transparent disguise a small army of occupation could be gradually introduced, and in establishing a modus vivendi between it and the Chinese civil and military authorities a predominant influence in the local administration could be established. At the same time, by energetic diplomatic action at Peking, which would be brought within striking-distance by the railways, all rival foreign influences might be excluded from the occupied provinces, and the rest might be left to the action of "spontaneous infiltration." Thus, while professing to uphold the principle of the territorial integrity of the Celestial Empire, the Cabinet of St. Petersburg might practically annex the whole of Manchuria and transform Port Arthur into a great naval port and arsenal, a far more effectual "Dominator of the East" than Vladivostok, which was intended, as its name implies, to fulfil that function. From Manchuria the political influence and the spontaneous infiltration would naturally extend to Korea, and on the deeply indented coast of the Hermit Kingdom new ports and arsenals, far more spacious and strategically more important than Port Arthur, might be constructed.

The grandiose scheme was carefully laid, and for a time it was favoured by circumstances. In 1900 the Boxer troubles justified Russia in sending a large force into Manchuria, and enabled her subsequently to play the part of China's protector against the inordinate demands of the Western Powers for compensation and guarantees. For a moment it seemed as if the slow process of gradual infiltration might be replaced by a more expeditious mode of annexation. As the dexterous diplomacy of Ignatief in 1858 had induced the Son of Heaven to cede to Russia the rich Primorsk provinces between the Amur and the sea, as compensation for Russian protection against the English and French, who had burnt his Summer Palace, so his successor might now perhaps be induced to cede Manchuria to the Tsar for similar reasons.

No such cession actually took place, but the Russian diplomatists in Peking could use the gratitude argument in support of their demands for an extension of the rights and privileges of the "temporary" occupation; and when China sought to resist the pressure by leaning on the rival Powers she found them to be little better than broken reeds. France could not openly oppose her ally, and Germany had reasons of her own for conciliating the Tsar, whilst England and the United States, though avowedly opposing the scheme as dangerous to their commercial interests, were not prepared to go to war in defence of their policy. It seemed, therefore, that by patience, tenacity and diplomatic dexterity Russia might ultimately attain her ends; but a surprise was in store for her. There was one Power which recognised that her own vital interests were at stake, and which was ready to undertake a life-and-death struggle in defence of them.

Though still smarting under the humiliation of her expulsion from the Liaotung Peninsula in 1895, and watching with the keenest interest every move in the political game, Japan had remained for some time in the background, and had confined her efforts to resisting Russian influence in Korea and supporting diplomatically the Powers who were upholding the policy of the open door. Now, when it had become evident that the Western Powers would not prevent the realisation of the Russian scheme, she determined to intervene energetically, and to stake her national existence on the result. Ever since 1895 she had been making military and naval preparations for the day of the revanche, and now that day was at hand. Against the danger of a coalition such as had checkmated her on the previous occasion she was protected by the alliance which she had concluded with England in 1902, and she felt confident that with Russia alone she was quite capable of dealing single-handed.

Her position is briefly and graphically described in a despatch, telegraphed at that time (28th July, 1903) by the Japanese Government to its representative at St. Petersburg, instructing him to open negotiations:

"The recent conduct of Russia in making new demands at Peking and tightening her hold upon Manchuria has led the Imperial Government to believe that she must have abandoned her intention of retiring from that province. At the same time, her increased activity upon the Korean frontier is such as to raise doubts as to the limits of her ambition. The unconditional and permanent occupation of Manchuria by Russia would create a state of things prejudicial to the security and interests of Japan. The principle of equal opportunity (the open door) would thereby be annulled, and the territorial integrity of China impaired. There is, however, a still more serious consideration for the Japanese Government. If Russia were established on the flank of Korea she would constantly menace the separate existence of that Empire, or at least exercise in it a predominant influence; and as Japan considers Korea an important outpost in her line of defence, she regards its independence as absolutely essential to her own repose and safety.

Moreover, the political as well as commercial and industrial interests and influence which Japan possesses in Korea are paramount over those of other Powers; she cannot, having regard to her own security, consent to surrender them to, or share them with, another Power."

同类推荐
  • 三千有门颂略解

    三千有门颂略解

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Strength of the Strong

    The Strength of the Strong

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 文心雕龙集校

    文心雕龙集校

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 落花

    落花

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说八大人觉经

    佛说八大人觉经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • Susan Lenox-Her Rise and Fall

    Susan Lenox-Her Rise and Fall

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 田园宠恋,农女要当家

    田园宠恋,农女要当家

    田心二十一世纪超级育儿师,不说是什么大美女,却也是颠倒众可爱小天使的人物,岂知一朝穿越变成了杏花村远近闻名的丑女,瘦骨嶙峋,肤色黝黑,而且她特不会打扮自己,本来自身条件就差,又不会化妆,更是让人觉得她丑得出奇。都说她嫁不出去,却偏偏她找到了自己的真爱丑是丑点,她喜欢就好,谁知道丑相公身份竟然不一般。
  • 景岳全书

    景岳全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邪王追妻:废柴长女逆天记

    邪王追妻:废柴长女逆天记

    她,现代最后的玄术师,却穿成了太守府爹不疼娘去世的废柴大小姐。他,倾城之貌只手遮天,无人能知其来历的神秘强者。受人鄙薄,她凭借手中神秘小鼎炼制天下奇药神器,年纪轻轻便名扬天下一洗前耻!奇遇连连,她四大圣兽尽在掌握,纵然被大陆王者觊觎追杀亦潇洒进阶化神,反噬霸主,华丽反击!两个极端存在的碰撞,命运的约定与追寻,冷心冷清的他为何对她情有独钟?逆天神鼎,天神邪尊,前世今生。且看他们如何开场华宴,盛装掀起大陆风云!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 如何纪

    如何纪

    农村出身的一介书生张向北,阴差阳错地娶了副市长苏剑的女儿苏书慧,此后一路青云直上。妻子的“优雅、端凝、雍容”在他看来只“适于堂皇的客厅”,缺少他要的“闺帷中的旖旎情致”。苏剑的妻子,这个“万千宠爱集一身的市长夫人”趁着每月到郊外圆月寺上香,奔赴与情人的约会,她渴望的是激情,是“疯狂的,惊艳的,生命的华彩章节”。作者将笔触深入个体家庭“幽暗的内核”,从副市长苏剑父女两代人表面光鲜的婚姻中探幽发微,直击暗疾丛生的人性。
  • 南明:流亡的悲歌

    南明:流亡的悲歌

    崇祯帝继位后,一步一步带着他的大明朝走向灭亡。南明,那个崩溃的时代,那个病态人格比比皆是的混乱社会,任何挣扎都无法阻止它衰亡的进程。大明建国二百多年后,一代雄杰朱元璋的皇裔圣种朱由榔,像丧家犬一样,流落到缅甸境内,度过了他人生最艰苦的岁月。在“亡天下”的浅层忧虑和“失身家”的深层恐惧双重夹击下,病态的“清醒者”们,成为晚明士人的“表率”和借口。文人士大夫内在的号称“坚韧”的精神品格,最终匍匐于刀锋利刃之下。但中华忠烈,不绝如缕。一批抗清殉明的忠臣孝子:史可法、高杰、夏完淳、陈子龙、张名振、瞿式耜、张同敞、张煌言,或为封疆大吏,或为布衣文士,国难之时,他们皆临危不惧,挺身赴难,以“姑留螳臂强当轮”的悲壮之举和带血的头颅,为南明半明半灭的历史涂上浓墨重彩的一笔!一个朝代土崩瓦解了,一代又一代凤子龙孙被抛入了历史的深渊,但鲜活沸腾的灵魂,却从帝国死亡的躯体上腾然而起,引导我们进入更加光明的涅槃的另一端!
  • 谷域

    谷域

    苍天不识人心,只言风雨!二千年前的遗物玉匙消失二十年后重现江湖。谷域正统山宗顿时四面楚歌,六大势力共逐其中。或忠或奸,各为其主,相互间刀消剑长,纷争不断,更在最后六大势力为图生存,最后一战的时候,谱写了一段可歌可泣的人生悲歌!
  • 我是仙人怕谁啊

    我是仙人怕谁啊

    做为一个从仙界被诬陷迫害到人间的修仙者,他可以看穿很多事情和人心,作为强者他也有七情六欲,为什么要限制自己呢。
  • 根本说一切有部略毗奈耶杂事摄颂

    根本说一切有部略毗奈耶杂事摄颂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 千金的美好生活

    千金的美好生活

    金晚玉:除了嫁人!我什么都愿意!金丞相:也行,那你准备准备,明日娶夫君。成婚以后——金晚玉给哥哥夹了一筷子菜,一转眼,新姑爷去荷花池边忧郁了。金晚玉约了赵大人郊游,一转眼,新姑爷去荷花池忧郁了。金晚玉成婚半年还没怀上,一转眼,新姑爷去荷花池边……以水为镜,检查身体!“来人,给老娘把那荷花池给填了!”暴走的金晚玉命人抗走了忧郁的姑爷,进了卧房。总之,这就是小姐和姑爷一起生活的那些事儿!