Arizona republican., 1904-03-02
JAPAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY.
She Merely ForestalIed Russia in Be-
 ginning the War.

Paris, March 1.-The charges of the Russian government that Japan is guilty of a fragrant breach of interna- tiunal law in making a most unwar- rantable attack on Russian men of war and merchant vessels, is answer ed in the following authorized state ment received from his government by the Japanese minister and given pub lication here:
 ''The answer to these charges may be found in the action of Russia her self That her government never en- tertained any sincere desire for peace can be clearly seen from its own con- duct.
 "Throughout the whole course of ne gotiations Russia consistently refused to meet the proposals made by Japan in a moderate and conciliatory spirit.
 "These delays could not be construed otherwise than wanton and unneces- sary. She put off the settlement of the questions at issue. while at the same time she was busily extending her naval and military preparations in the far east since last April when she failed to carry out her treaty engagements.
 During tkat time colossal increase was made in her naval strength in the the far east. During the same period the increase of Russia's land forces in the far east has been equally marked.
 During the same period there has | been the greatest activity possible at Port Arthur and Viadivostok. and the
 work has been carried On day and night to strengthen the Qualifications of these naval ports. while forts have ! hca hIrf oil ctr large quantities of arms and ammuni-
 tion have been sent to the far east by | the Siberian railway and vessels of | the volunteer fleet. From these mili-
 tary and naval preparations of every description made during the progress of negotiations it is quite evident that | Russia was not inclined to q friendly
 settlement of the questions then un- der discussion between Japan and her self, but sought solely by her military | preponderance to fierce Japan into submission.
 About the same date all of the war | ships at Port Arthur except battle | ship then under repairs made a naval demonstration by leaving the port, while troops were advanced In large numbers from Liao Yang toward the Yalu. In view of these facts. who can say that Russia had no warlke inten- tions or that she was unprepared for war? Seeing the situation had be- come so critical that it admitted of
 no further delay. the Japanese govern
 ment was compelled to break off nego- | tiaticns that proved abortive and to
 take necessary steps for self-protec- tion. But the responsibility for the challenge to war rests not with Japan, ! but solely with Russia.
 Indeed. it has been the common practice in recent wars to declare war after hostilities have begun. Japan's l action, therefore, Is not open to the | least criticism in this regard. From | the standpoint of International law, it
 must be understood that the charges
 made against her does not come with good grace from Russia, inasmuch as
 there are many historical instances of | Russia herself resorting to hostilities
 without a declaration of war. Tn one
 ease, that of her invasion of Finland | in 1S0S she began war before there
 had even been rupture of diplomatic | relations