The New York herald., 1875-09-22
A Difficult Problem Satisfactorily
Solved by the Japanese.
CESSION OF SAGHALIEN.
The Future Of Russia in the
Orient.
RESIGNATION OF GENERAL LEGENDRE.
TOXIC. August "a. 1875.

England 1t has there been made the subject of Par
lamentary debate and has been warmly discussed in
the newspapers by some of which the fact OF
the transfer tho outset boldly denied
Now that it is fully recognized it does not
appear to be received with perfect equanimity. There
doubt that entirely unexpected and that the
penetrating system of inquiry practised by British
officials in the East particularly in Japan, for
once at fauL Ift had been orseen every effort would
have boep strained to prevent the consummaton for
while 10 other Powers the question OF occupation is one
Of indifference to England it is of the keenest i'm
portance. Russia possesses what, for obvious
reasons had been the great anxiety of England
her forever deprived of-an outlet the broad
from her Eastern territory and first class naval sta
tion the Pacific That the acquisition should bo
secured with tho utmost secrecy a positive
necessity, since, If tho nature of the recent
negotiations had been divuged, England would have
grasped any pretext for seizng the ground herself
This the danger which Japan always most
eager to avert 1t has been feared that Russia
would attempt to take possession by violence, mas
much in such event the assistance OF the great
naval Powers Of the West could have been invoked ut
any moment Nothing would have been eagerly
welcomed by England than the opportunity of checking
the extension ofthe II artme strength of any nation
and especially of Russia. But while the japanese thus
felt themselves safe from peril OF aggression on the
part of their Asiatic neighbor, they knew they
never free from the danger of English assault
in this quarter. To settle the question of the
permanent occupation In such to best
their future interests has been for years a difficult
problem for the OF Japan and IL may be
out of place to the motives by which they have
been influenced in this final solution The whole story
forms chapter of international records In the East
which, though perhaps not Of high Importance cannot
be altogether without interest
lint tbau a1Ixr
nized us the property of Japan nominal ''annexa-
tio0" by Russian explorer had indeed been declared
early in the present century. but this not
sdered effective by that nation Itself In consequence
OF discoveries of coal, about 1850 serious attempt
made in 1854 by Count Putiatine to induce the
Japanese surrender the island which was
cessfu that consent obt ined joint ownership
the boundary line to be nbliSled by mutual agree
ment Upon this point
NUMEROUS DISCUSS IONS FOLLOWED,
which prolonged for ,eral years The Japanese
who it is needless to say fell into fatal when
they first agreed to waive ny of their rights proposed
that the nGteth parallel Of latitude should mark the
division. Russia dema AIDED more southern
limit In 1860 the latter government went
so far to ask, throl igh their envoy in Jeddo,
for the control of the W hole island which, naturally,
not granted But the request had the effect of
awakening the Japanese the loss that threatened
them. In 1862 they sent mission St. Petersburg,
with instructions to definite acknowledgment
of the line of the I'll ieth parallel, the ground
that the division bet certain tribes OF Russian
origin the side tud Japanese on the other
there to be found. Tn Russians disputed this alleged
fact and, the ques ion could not DO determined at
the moment they in sisted that the subjects of both
tions should enter ;nd occupy the whole island in
mon. From this time for several years Japan
unable to give close attenti on to the affairs
of so distant province. The old 1ycoons government
struggling painfully through their last days and
the labors OF preservation nded the application
of all their en,Tges at home. They did find
time, in 1865, 20 ask the good offices of the United
States government, through the Minister, Mr. Pruyn
but nothing came Of this ndireca. effort. In 1867
second embassy visited St. Petersbs rg but, in addition
to the fact that the opportunity OF favorable settle
ment for Japan was now almost utterly lost the
ENJOYS were altogether inadequate TO their trust,
and suffered themselves to be lid in precisely
the direction which Russia rcquir ed When they
returned home, they reported as follow s-"Though
exhausted all possible arguments the f renamed that
the Russian colonies extend south OF the feth degree.
1t IS the fault Japan for putting of the negotiations
long" treaty concluded by these Con imssionors
cognizcd the complete right OF joint occu oaton by vir
tue OF which the Russians FASTENED TO extend their
settlements southwark with great rapidy. Up to this
time no serious effort at colonizatiOn had been
made by Japan-and, ndced 1t may be said that
effective effort has ever, at any period,
been attempted In 1870 a final remonstrancc
put forward and for the timc through the
medium of the United States, and series Of communi
cations passed between Mr. De ong the Unit,d States
envoy in Japan the State Depai :tment at Washington
and the United States Minis aer at st. Petersburg
The result of the correspondent ce was that Russia
phaticay refused in terms by no means complim en-
tary to the government Of the United Stat cs the pro-
posa for ntercession, but ex ressed the time,
a desire TO ascertain arough tho department
at Washington and Mr. De Long upon what
terms Japan would part with Sagjialien,
indicated willingness to ole rN'matcria com pensaon"
There Is reason TO believe that the subst OF this
communication not fu fly revealed to the Japanese
government may men ion however, that tIe docu-
ments recording 1t are lie in United States Lega-
tion in Toxic, aud begin 18th No. IS oil 1870.
Perceving at last the Inevitable tendency of events
and recognizing that r nssia was simply exercising
duly acquired right in ia Iing advantage the opportu
mites she had gained. II Japanese turned to the ardy
consideration how to nprovo what few advantages
were left To them in the situation. IL may be interest
ing TO know that the officers finally charged with the
duty nrst vnderto ok to quality themselves by
a somewhat close tNamlnaiion of the future prOba-
bilities OF intercou or contact with the several
western nations J heir purpose naturally, was TO
discover what Jap an might have to apprehend from
their action, either separately or in combination The
results OF ther Testigations the various reports
testify, were, that from France they ne,s fear nothing
that country havl ng httle ambition or capacity TO
,,o, oIssri hNrhNp IT'S AREA OF coLoSzATioNi
th' "ciHiAhy QUA not be discovered 10 entertain
active views res Iecting the East excepting Of
nercla kind, az h that these OF SUI niccnt mag
ntude TO give round for suaprions Of interference in
any direction, unless stimulated by more vigorous
leader IKE England; that although Spain, Por-
tugal and nlland still held Asatic possessions,
the days Cd their aggressive power had long
since passed away, and th4t America rejected all pOhti
cal consider hons content with the present Wspoct
OF trace al al would continue be satisfied with It for
years 10 Sme-perhaps forever The processes by
whch tne various conclusions were reached were
often very Ingenious and woutd In most be ia
cOhNlhclhl, with others they with those to
whom tu arguments were addressed. These nations
having cn disposed Of IN the minds Of the inqurcrs,
there re- naned only two which possess vital interests IN
the Fast These two however England and Russia, de-
nahdeo more serious consideration than all The others
coinOh cd Al the Of the investigations tlcrc