The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-12
Can tho War Be Stopped?

According TO q telegram from st
Louis the Inter-Parliamentary Union
will presently request President RoosE-
WELT to propose that the neutral Powers
which were represented In The Hague
conference attempt by joint interven-
ton to put an end to the war between
Russia and Japan. simultaneously
there 10 revival Of the report that the
German Emperor Is planning to bring
about concerted interpretation by neu-
trails as soon as the forces OF the COM
batants shall have gone into winter quar-
ters, an event which Is expected to take
place In October. What likelihood Is
there that such movement, whether
started at Berlin or at Washington, would
prove successful at any time during the
current yearf
An Offer Of mediation on the part Of
Germany, or even q concerted move
ment to that end In which conspicuous
part should be taken by that Power,
would be viewed with suspicion at Toxic.
Il is there believed that in various ways
Germany has rendered moro help to
Russia IN tho present war than has Franco.
Il 10 true that since the outbreak Of hos
tities Russia has been able to borrow q
good deal Of money in Paris, but suoh
peUmiary assistance, though useful, Ia
scarcely comparable In importance with
the assurance said to have been given
by the German Emperor, that the Car
need have no apprehension OF European
complications, and therefore would be at
liberty to transfer to the Far East a large
part Of the army normally stationed on
the frontier from the mouth Of the VS.
tula to the mouth Of the Danube. In the
absence Of such an assurance prolonga-
ton OF the war In Manchuria would have
been q far more arduous undertaking
than It is now likely to prove. Under
the circumstances the Japanese are JUS
tilted In regarding the Berlin Govern
ment as unfriendly. France, Of course,
Is disqualified for the role Of mediator,
because she Is an ally Of Russia's although
the terms Of her alliance do not bind her
TO take part In tho Far Eastern contest.
On the other hand, the expression of
! wish to intervene on the part Of Great
Britain would be unweloome at st. Peters
burg, because hitherto British sympa-
shies have been enlisted on the side Of
Japan, and the Government has even
sgreed to support the Mikado should he
20 assailed by mora than one great
Power. More acceptable to the Cars
advisers might be an overture from
italy, because 1t would be taken for |
granted that she could be influenced by
Germany. For that very reason the |
Japanese could hardly be expected to |
,redit the Italians with entire disinter-
sickness and impartiality.
There ID no doubt that the initiative in
move toward concerted mediation
night be taken by the United States
Without exciting distrust at Toxic. Our
sumption Of such a role, however,
night be viewed with much less salts
action at st. Petersburg, not only be-
ause Russia's supposition that she could
cunt upon Americas sympathy in the
resent contest has proved ill founded,
ut because, 80 far as the future Of Nam
huria is concerned, our interests and
hose Of Japan seem to be substantially
ientical. 1t is therefore improbable
nat, even should President ROOSEVELT
fer to mediate between the belligerents,
is proposal would be accepted by the
Ear of Russia.
Russia has not yet been brought SO
w as to accept the terms of peace
pom which Japan would almost certainly
lsist. The minimum Of Japan's exac-
ons would be the surrender of Russia's
ase Of the Lao-tung peninsula, the res
'ration Of Chinese authority through
ut Manchuria, and a recognition Of
apan's protectorate over Corea. 1t is
ot improbable that the Toxic Govern |
ent will demand also a pecunary in
smnity and a cession OF the island of
lghalien, which formerly belonged TO {
and which is valued for its coal n ines.
Mould the war be prolonged, the eur I
nder Of Vladivostok and of the whole I
strict lying between the Ussuri River ]
I'd the sea may be made condition OF O
ace. 1t is possible that the Japanese I
ay hold that the two Russian railways
inning from Hardin to Vladivostok I
I'd Port Arthur, respectively, should be v
nided tottheir hands, on the ground G
at the Chpese authorities could NOT DO S