The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-08-29

1857 and 1860 lost to her Hongkong, cost
an indemnity of S35, 100000 and opened
several ports to trade.
The treaty of Prague. that marked
the close of the war between Prussia
and Austria, in 1866, provided not alone
for the cession of territory by the van
quished and the exclusion of Austria
from the German bund, but also an
indemnity of 100000 thalers, or $780,,
000, 900. A good price for seven weeks
of war.
France paid the greatest war indem-
nifty that has been exacted since the
days when conquest meant the prac-
tically absolute confiscation OF all OF
the private property of the enemy s
subjects. After the capture of Paris,
Emperor William demanded the pay
ment of 5000, 100000 francs, or $780,
100000, by the presumptuous nation
that had dared to oppose his armies.
M. Theirs succeeded in having this re-
duced to 5,000 600, 900 francs, or $780,
1000. The hardest blow to France
was the making of Alsace and Lorraine
German territory.
Russia punished Turkey severely for
her temerity in waging the war of 1871.
The treaty of Stefano, signed IL months
after the beginning of the war, pro-
vided that the sultan should pay an
indemnity Of 1410.0C0, 600 roubies. or
$3.50 OOO, 600 About one-half of this was
in payment for the cost of the war and
the other half was for damage done
by Turks to citizens of Russia. The
car preferred territory to cash, and
the sultan, having more of the former
than the latter article, willingly agreed
to cede part of his land. The powers
allowed Turkey to make such a cession
as they approved, and the war led di
rectly to the great treaty of Berlin,
which was to settle the eastern ques-
ton, and, to everybody's surprise, has
settled it for 20 years at least.
Japan believes she was defrauded of
the just fruits of her victory over
China. Yet the mikado exacted from
the celestial emperor a sum amount
ing to nearly 5000 100000 and added to
his territory the island of Formosa as
result of the terms of the treaty rati-
fed at Chefoo, May s, 1895. The is
land, whose soil is said to be the rich
est in the world, was a splendid prize.
Its area is as great as that of Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut combined,
and its population 100000. The rec
ognition of the independence of Corea,
for which the war was waged, also
followed.
War was a losing investment for the
sultan of Turkey when he fought
Greece last year. The powers would
not let him exact an indemnity of more
than 100000 900, which was not more
than fourth of what the war actually
cost the grand Turk. But Greece was
poor, and the adding of new debt to
her already overwhelming obligations
would have swamped the nation.
According to the Washington CORE
spondents it is understood that we will
require the independence of Cuba I'M
der an American protectorate, and the
possession of Porto Rico certainly,
while it is more than likely that we
shall demand cOaling stations in the
conquered Pacific islands. Failing any
precise declaration to the contrary, we
would hold all that we might have con-
quered up to the time of the cessation
OF hostilities by the right of uti pos
seditis, which simply means the right
to keep what you have won.
Whatever we may gain, Spain is
bound to retire and leave us in pos
session. International law requires
this, but the authorities generally say
that the ceding nation is not obliged
to secure the newcomer in possession.