368 THE FAR EAST. 



pean occupation hung heavily upon the minds of 

 Chinese statesmen, when a friend in need appeared 

 upon the scene. General Ignatieff, who, of course, 

 saw that the occupation could be only temporary, 

 likewise saw that the Chinese understanding was so 

 unhinged with terror as not to be able to grasp 

 so obvious a fact for itself, and was not slow to 

 take advantage of this aberration. Russia had 

 always entertained feelings of deep friendship for 

 China, she would now give tangible proof of her 

 kindly feeling, she would induce the allies to with- 

 draw. So ran the tenor of his tale. Grateful China, 

 or rather China as represented by Prince Kung, fell 

 at her benefactor's feet. What could she do to repay 

 such kindness? The General thought that a slight 

 readjustment of the Russo- Chinese frontier might be 

 accepted as a token of Chinese gratitude, and the 

 treaty of Peking was signed. Of course the allies 

 withdrew, equally of course their withdrawal had 

 nothing to do with the Russian envoy. 



So ended the first phase of the Manchurian question. 

 The second phase opened amid the clash of arms, and 

 the country that had slumbered in obscurity for thirty 

 years was displayed to the Powers of the West under 

 the lurid light of war. A new star had ascended in 

 the Eastern sky, and henceforth Japan became a Power 

 to be reckoned with in the councils of the East. 



The cause of the Chino- Japan war of 1894 has never 

 been disclosed. " To defeat China " appears to be the 

 only definite reason that has ever been assigned, though 

 the moral right of one Power to make war on another 

 for the mere pleasure of defeating it would seem to be, 

 to say the least of it, questionable. The probability is 

 that Japan was blessed with far-seeing statesmen, who 

 foresaw the likelihood of a powerful rival some day 



