Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-11-15
votes to his grand total, another proof
that the Roosevelt victory is the most
sweeping and notable of any since the
civil war.
JAPAN,s PEACE OFFER.

:"
Judging from all sides the semi-of-
fetal offer of Japan to accept peace
proposals from Russia seems to have
been simply play which may count
for much when the inevitable time for
peace conference and meeting for a
treaty does arrive. Just what source
1t was through which the tentative Of
fer was made is not clear, but that
it was not official is sure. However,
Japan does not deny that it was made
and Minister Hayash., the representa-
tive of the mikado at London said yes
terday that after the fall of Port Ar
thur his government would no doubt
look favorably upon mediation by
some Of the great world powers.
1t is we'll established that Japan
was the aggressor in the ante-bellum
troubles which led to the war in the
far east and Russia has made many
friends by her very evident desire to
avoid a war at least at the time she
was forced to fight or lose entirely her
grip upon the east. Now Japan, the
victor in the present campaign, es-
tablishes herself as a peace loving ma
ton by offeping semi-off1cially to treat
for peace. If the offer were made Of
ficially there would be less opportun-
lily to dictate terms than when the red
tape of officialdom is yet to be dealt
with. However, such an offer as has
been made may be calculated to weigh
as heavily with the powc-s and Rus
sia's refusal. which is necessarily Of
! fetal whether to an official or unoffi-
cial offer, puts that nation on record
as the party which is now forcing the
fighting.
Japan has made good record dur
ing the campaign which is now prac-
tically closed for the winter. The MI
kado is surely intelligent enough to
see that his success has been largely
due to the fact that he seized upon a
time when Russia was unprepared for
war. Next year there is every reason
to believe that the reports from the
front will not be SO one-sided. Japan's
time to propose peace is now, while
her reputation is good"
/ Russia, with her opportunity to rush
! 100000 men into the field in year
will not be idle during the coming win
ter and next spring will no doubt find
4 her ready for strong campaign
against the Japanese. The Baltic fleet
which is timed to arrive in oriental
waters next February, will be a valu
able asset and will endanger the Jap
anese coast as nothing has since the
destruction of the Port Arthur fleet
by Togo. Japan will have the same
old campaign to fight over again next
year unless peace is made before that
time and she will have the disadvan
tage Of crippled forces, a more sea
soned army on the enemy's eide anc
the chance for losing the benefits
which have come from what can be
described no better than as "luck."
Minister Hayashi. in yesterdays in
terview, said that after the fall O
! Port Arthur, Japan would no doub
listen to peace proposals with thu
basis that both the warning nations
evacuate Manchuria for all time Thi!
sounds like big concession to Russia
but 1t is really all that japan wants
as the result of the war. Japan is
small nation and the fewer outside de
Tendencies she has to watch the bet
ter she can protect her own shores
But with treaty which would proven
Russia from encroaching in Man
churia for territory the trade of tina
country would come to Japan or
least the major portion OF 1T. Such
treaty would also prevent Russia iron
taking liberties in China which nigh
cause Japan trouble in commercial
way. In fact, all Japan wants is Rus
sia's finger out of the Manchurial
pie.