New-York tribune., 1905-08-24
JAPAN'S NEW PROPOSAL.
SAGHALIEN FOR 5000 900 900.
Indemnity Not Mentioned-Lmita-
ton of NaUal Po7cer ForegOnf.
az The Associsted Press }

tBy The Associated Press)
Portsmouth n. H. Aug. 23-The following
authoritative statement has been made to The
Associated Press explaining the Russian posi-
tion with regard to the latest stage OF the
peace negotiations
Statements have appeared in prominent Amer
lean and English papers which. while eloquent,
studiously moderate and well intentioned. are.
unhappiy. calculated TO mislead the world as TO
the prospects of peace and the general char
acter of Japan's so-called new proposal with
which IL is contended Russia can close without
loss of dignity. The regrettcbe mistake into
which the representatives of those journals have
undoubtedly fallen is obviously the result or
misleading data leayened with real but sec
ondary facts.
Thus 1t is quite true as those papers pre-
dicted. that the ENJOYS of Japan came forward
at to-day's sitting with proposal which was
new in form. but old in substance. 1t is equalIy
true that that proposal lacks the two conten-
tious clauses stipulating that Russia snal sur,
render to japan her dsarmed warsh,ps war .sa. anc
1t reduces the differences between the TWO
powers to the compass OF what is In appear
ance a single question. the sale or Saghalleh
The elimination Of the two clauses stipuias-
Ing that Russias disarmed warshlps De hand-
ed over to japan and her naval s,renstn on t Ilte
Pacific be restricted brings no new elements
into the transaction For the withdrawal or
those claims which were obviously put forward
with the intention OF being waived IN the course
of negotiations is devoid of Importance The
disarmed ships In question are Russia's by right
and to ask that they be handed over TO Japan
demand q
Again the limitation of Russia's naval ef-
fective on the Pacific Is meaningless De-
cause she will be unable for quarter-or 1t
may be half-a century TO dispose Oh Warships
enough 10 keep a squadron there equal to
Japan's while Il would be fruitless to maintain
a, smaller Consequently. TO speak or those
things as concessions is but TO play with words.
1t is equally childish to affirm that Japan
foregoes her claim for indemnity because
the new proposal does not actually mention IT.
All that she does is to join the question Of Sag
halien with that of a cash payment and to insist
upon war costs under the name of purchase
money The transaction is fictitious and the
terminology misleading. If what is proposed be
IN truth purchase and sale. 1t should be treated
as such; and. therefore, should Russia decline
to buy the territory. Japan should keep 1t, and
conclude peace on the basis of the concessions
already made
Again, II a purely business transaction were
indeed intended, the value Of the territory OF
fered would be the basis on which the Two
parties would treat. But here even this essential
condition is not observed The price demanoed
for the northern half of the island is 1,2OoOU-
600 yen, which is the original estimate or the
war costs. Possibly japan may have fixed that
sum with the intention of whiting II down to
some extent later on but Russia, mindful OF her
national honor. of her military strength, and OF
her historic traditions, Will not and cannot con-
sent to pay a war indemnity by whatsoever
name it may be called, nor can she nor lndeed'
the world at large, regard Japans proposal as d
proof of genuine desire for peace.
Japan, having obtained all that she neeoed
and longed for as a nation. now narrows down
the issue to a question of dollars and cents. yet
refuses for peace's sake TO waive her demand;
Russia on the contrary. has conceded freely anu
fully everything she could give consistently with
her sense of national honor and dignity Hence
what to Japan Is but matter or money is 10
Russia a point of honor. TIC withdraw the casn
claim is, therefore. immeasurapIy easter ~ ~
Japan than IL would be for Russia TO allow IT,
Russia has suffered reverses owing to her own
lack Of organization, her unpreparedness ana
her internal disorders. But she is still mighty
and unconquered nation, whose people VIII en-
Enthusiastically uphold their representatives, IN
their firm resolve to keep the national escutcheon
Immaculate. Whatever else may De alhrhieu VI
denied OF them that is true.
At first sight the offer may perhaps, seem
new some, but closer examination VIII Wills snoM .n
it to be in all essential details idenreal WIN the
proposal already rejected by Russia's plenpo-
tentiaries. Only person unfamiliar with war
in love with humanitarianism, 1orelgn 10 rus
sa and incompetent to judge of Russlas ma
tional honor and dignity could descry IN those
terms the source OF new impulse given to the
peace nesotiations. But a grtevous mistake
was committed by those who imagined that the
plenpotentaries OF the Gear, the representatives.
of the Russian nation. would take the musk lot
the kernel the shadow for the substance -
person of average intelligence can see that what
is new IN this proposal is the phraseoiosy III
which it is couched.
her pen through the most obnoxious clause OF
all-that which deals with indemnity-ano ali
that she now asks Russia TO do in ADDITION 10
the terms already agreed upon is TO purchase
the northern half Of Saghalien for sum OF
10000 600 yen. And this alleged simplihcatlon
of terms is supposed to provide RUSSIA Win an
acceptable basis for peace treaty
They alone are the judges of what can and
cannot be done in Russias name.
If, therefore. the efforts of American trlenos
are to he crowned with success, II the iabors
of the conference are not to end IN smoke ana
IL the efusion of blood in the Far East ls 10
be terminated. it behooves Japan 10 make a
frank declaration that she withdraws once TOT
all and without reserve her demand TO nave ner
war costs paid in any shape or form. There-
fore despite the positive and emphatic declara-
ton OF the well meaning but mistaken jour
nalists alluded to above, peace is not and can
not be assured until Japan unreservedly with
draws her claim TO have the costs OF the cam
paign refunded by Russia.
When this statement was shown to COM
petent japanese authority he declined TO make
any reply We are not talking" he said. I'VE
are not fighting this battle In the newspapers
When all is over we will give side OF the
story tovthe world