The daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Beltrami Co., Minn.) 1903-1904, 1904-01-07
JAPANESE EXPLANATION.
Review OF Negotiations with the rus
sian Government.

sian Government.
Toxic. Jam IA high Japanese au
thority made the following eXplana
ton of the status of the Far Eastern
situation:
The statement that Russia has
made concessions to Japan is not ex
act On the contrary Russia, in the
month Of October, made certain con.
cessiens which were accepted by
Japan. subsequently withdrew them.
and assumed an attitude which left the
Japanese little hope in the way Of
reaching a satisfactory agreement.
The Japanese government, conf
dent in the declarations Of disinterest.
edness in Manchuria made by Russia
and recognizing Russa's special inter-
ests in that region. wished to regulate.
once for all, all questions in the Far
East in the interest Of future peace
and tranquility. To this end Japan
made the following proposals:
"First-Russia and Japan should
mutually respect the Independence
and territorial integrity OF China and
Korea
v lSSoSlliLG
Japan the special interests of Russia
in Manehuria Russia the special in
terests of Japan in Korea.
''Third-To engage mutually not to
infringe--Japan the commercial rights
and immunities acquired by Russia in
Korea. Russia the commercial rights
and immunitieS acquired by Japan III
Manchuria.
''In making the third proposition
Japan wished not only to protect her
own rights in China and those OF Rus
sia in Korea but to consecrate by
the principal Of equality of treatment
the commercial rights of all nations
in Korea and China
Russia declined the Japanese
propositions and submitted counter
proposition which contained clause
providing for the creation Of neutral
zone extending from the China-korean
frontier to Wongtan on the east and
to Pingyank on the west. The zone
comprised almost a third of Korea.
This Russian pretension took from
Japan all guarantee of the
Protection Of Her Rights
in Manchuria and sequestrated con-
siderable part Of Korea, where. with
out contradiction, Japan's interests
preponderate, and which every nation
recognizes as being within the legiti-
mate sphere of Japan.
The proposal eXasperated Japan
ese public opinion
Japan could not accept the pro-
posal for several reasons.
Everyone knows that by the new
treaties concluded by the United
States and Japan with China one city
and two ports were to be opened to
Tcheng and Mukden were the points
chosen. BY the occupation Of these
ports Russia prevented China from full
filling the obligations OF her treaties.
In Korea, equally. acts OF Russia
have had as a result the closing of the
Yalu river to foreign commerce. Japan
asks Korea. simultaneously with the
United States and Great Britain. to
open this region to international com
merce. In occupying Yong Wang Pou
(Yongampho), the only port In North
Korea, Russia paralyzed the realiza
tion of this project. Japan then had
reason to fear that letting Russia
alone would result in closing the Yel-
low sea AMI the interior Of Manchu-
ria to international commerce.
In struggling with all her force
against the pretensions of Russia in
the Far East Japan works not only
for herself but for all nations. Japan
does not ignore the dangers and risks
of an armed conflict with Russia and
does not embark upon it with a light
heart or as a fanforonade. III will be
less struggle between races than a
plan for the preservation of interna-
tional commerce"