Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-26

There was an ancient feud smoldering:
sentiment which had been bravely sup
pressed for many years, but never extin-
gufshed. 1t grew out of the seixure OF the
Island OF Sakhalin by Russia many years
her rights.
Seizure Of Sakhalin.
Sakhalin lies north Of Japan. along the
coast Of Siberia, and for ages it's shores
have been a valuable fishing ground for the
Japanese 1t is a bleak. barren mass OF
rocks. with most inhospitable climate and
a scanty population of squatters living
without a government. But these squatters
were all japanese subjects and the island
had always been considered a part of the
Japanese empire. 1t so appeared upon the
Russian maps. But it's location with rela-
ton to Vladivostok made it's occupation by
Russia expedient, and. without consulting
Japan, China, Korea or any other nefghbOr,
Russia calmly moved over. took possession
erected Notifications and prisons and made
Sakhalin convict colony At that time
Japan had no navy and her army was not
organized for foreign fighting. She was a
hermit; she had not been initiated into the
society OF nations; she had no diplomatic
representatives, at the European capitals
and she was cooly robbed Of a large terri
tory just mpotent nations have been
robbed many times before. While she was
compelled to submit. she has not forgotten.
and all these years her people have been
wishing and waiting for an opportunity for
| revenge.
Russia Agrees to Leave.
The United States and Great Britain
united with japan in supporting China
against the exorbitant demands of Russia,
and, for some reason never explained, the
latter was induced to sign a treaty agree
ing to withdraw her troops from Man.
churia in three instalments. Each step Of
evacuation was to take place upon a fixed
date, and through the United States
bassador at ST. Petersburg and the Russian
ambassador at Washington. the cars gov
eminent repeatedly renewed the assurance
when the LIST Of October. 1908, arrived, the
date Of evacuation. Russia behaved exact
ly as IL no promise had ever been given,
and instead of withdrawing her troops and
abandoning her Notifications she had
agreed to do, her minister at Picking de-
manded additional concessions. which prac-
tically amounted to the transfer Of the en-
tire territory Of Manchuria from China to
the car.
Great Britain and the United States made
representations which were never satisfied.
and Japan decided to bring matters to a
crisis.
With the approval of Great Britain and
the United States, Mr.. Kurino. the Japanese
minister to st. Petersburg, proposed to
Count Lamsdorff, the Russian minister Of
foreign relations, the basis Of a new treaty
between Russia and Japan, in effect as fol-
lows:
Japan's Proposals.
l. To respect and maintain the independ-
ence and territorial integrity of China and
Korea. and to guarantee within the terri
tory Of both equal opportunities in COM
merce and industry for the subjects of
all nations.
z. Russia to agree not to obstruct the
commercial and Industrial development of
Korea by the Japanese, and Japan to agree
not to impede the commercial and indus
trial activity of Russia in Manchuria.
g. RUSSIA 10 have the right to send troops
into Manchuria and Japan into Korea to
suppress disorder, guaranteeing that such
troops shall be promptly withdrawn soon
as the emergency is over. but neither ma
ton shall attempt permanent military &C.
cupation of either territory.
f. Recognition of the right and duty Of
Japan to give advice and assistance to
Korea in the interest of civilization and
good government.
Russia took two months to consider and
then submitted a counter proposition, which
provided that Japan should formally re-
linquIsh AL interests in Manchuria out
side of its sphere of influence, and agree
not to interfere with the designs of Russia
In Manchuria. 1t conceded the right OF
Japan to assist and advise Korea in the
interest of peace and good government and
provided that the northern half of that en-
pire should be regarded as neutral zone
in which both nations should have equal
duce troops for any purpose.
Japan declined to renounce her interests
in Manchuria. and insisted upon their rec
ognition by Russia. A guarantee of the Sc
curity Of Japanese interests In that ter
ritory was demanded and Baron Komura,
minister of foreign relations at Tokyo.
submitted a new series of propositions
which pledged Russia and Japan jointly to
protect the Independence and integrity Of
both China and Korea. 1t provided that
Russia should practically exercise pro-
tectorate over Manchuria and Japan over
Korea, and that there should be a neutral
zone extending fifty kilometers on either
side of the boundary between Manchuria
and Korea, into which neither should ever
Introduce troops.
Russia's Reply.
Forty-one days later Baron Rosen, the
Russian minister at Tokyo. handed reply
to the foreign office, which accepted ia
pans propositions concerning Korea, but
contained no reference to Manchuria what
ever. This was a bold denial of Japans
right to be consulted in Chinese affairs.
Baron Komura informed Russia that his
government could not accept such reply;
it was not admissible. The object of Japan
in proposing new treaty was to secure
the recognition of her rights in Manchuria
and the protection of her interests there.
and to secure guarantee of the integrity
of Chinese territory. and he limited signif-
cantly that further delay in the solution
of those questions will be extremely disad-
vantageouS for both countries"
That communication reached Russia jan
uary 13, 1904, but received no attention.
January % Mr.. Kurino asked for an an
swer. He repeated the request one week
later, and again at the end of the second
week. when Count Lamsdorf, the Russian
minister of foreign relations, expressed his
regret that 1t was impossible to fix date
for Russia's reply
That was diplomatic way of explaining
that none would be given: that the claims
OF Japan to be consulted concerning Man.
churia were denied; that her pretentions
were not admitted. In the meantime real
izing that Russia was fastening prepare
lions for hostilities. Mr. Kurino was in
structed to retire from st. Petersburg and
on the 9Th of February war was declared.