The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-15
JAPAN HAS
RUSSIA'S REPLY
Handed to Baron KOmura BY Mr.
White This Morning.
ITS NATURE NOT MADE PUBLIC

cede the island Of Sakhalin-The
ether Points Of Japan's Demands
Are Accented AS Bases For Future
Discussion.
Portsmouth. n. H.. Aug l2.-Rus'
sia's reply to the japanese terms OF
neece were delivered by Mr. White To
Baron Komura at $50 O'Clock this
morning. The reply is written. there
being two texts. one in French, the
other in English.
Upon the two crucial points. indem-
nifty end the cession Of the Island OF
Sakhalin. the reply is an absolute non
possimus. other points are accepted
as bases for discussion. while sun
others are accepted conditionally. The
reply is rather long. because in emu
merating the conditions upon which
discussion is admitted and those upon
which consideration is declined, rea-
sons and arguments are given.
The Japanese plenipotentiaries are
expected to ask for an immediate adj
iournment to examine and prepare this
reply. Mr.. Witte will probably init
mate that the Russian pienipotenita-
ries expect the Japanese 10 display as
much expedition as they (the Rus
sians) have shown in the preparation
Of their response. Monday. therefore.
is expected To be the day on which the
real discussion will begin Neither
side wants to indulge in diplomatic
sparring. The time for fencing Is
over. and less than a week must de-
eide whether basis OF peace Is pos
sible.
The tactics of the Japanese are in
scrutable. They have shown through
out the war this ability TO guard their
military, naval and diplomat
ic-and now not the remotest clue
comes from behind their closed doors
as to whether they are prepared TO
make substantial concessions. Silence
and secrecy are their watch words.
But If the conditions as submitted con-
stitute their last word. hope OF peace
may be regarded as having disappear
ed. If the feeling reflected In Russian
circles is a true criterion. And that
no substantial concessions on the main
issues will be made is the belief both
in Russian and Japanese circles.
In the inner camps of both plenipo-
tentiaries the deepest pessimism
reigns. Mr. Witte. il is positively
known. believes the prospects OF an
agreement are so remote as to be
practically nil He has no desire 10
prolong the agony, and. instead OF
fencing when the plenipotentiarics
come together after the Japanese have
had the opportunity to examine the
reply. there is strong reason to believe
he will not only welcome. but will in
sist upon an immediate discussion OF
all the proposed bases. So pessimis-
tic is he that be has already been talk
ing to his colleagues of his plan when
the rupture comes.
japanese Wont Modify Demands.
That the japanese terms. in so far
as they touch the main points, will
not be Withdrawn or materially mOdi-
fed. Is the opinion OF the most compe-
tent Japanese authority on the ground
who will talk for publication, namely.
Mr. Julio Kumpei Matsumato. a mem
Der OF the Japanese parliament. who
is here as a financial emissary OF ia
pan. and who is in close communica-
ton with Baron KOmura and Mr.. Ia
kahira. The reasons he assigns are
extremely interesting.
Fac conditions in their broad out
lines" said he to the Associated Press
correspondent, have been substan-
TALLY known to us in Japan. and the
Russians will be very much mistaken
If they imagine the japanese will not
insist upon the two chief points -the
indemnity and the cessiOn Of Sakhalin.
To surrender either is impossible. If
Baron Komura should yield on these
points public feeling in japan would
be so strong that he would be murder
ed upon his return to Japan. We must
be reimbursed for the cost Of the war
and we have national claims to SAX
halin which we have never forgotten
About 200 years ago the island was
explored by a japanese. Juzo Honda,
who occupied it in the name OF Jauan.
and called it KarafutO. the name be-
slowed upon It by the aboriginal lnO
race. who at that time also Inhabited
the island of Hokkaido Finally it was
discovered by a Russian captain. who
occupied il I'm the name Of Russia
Japan protested. and a long desultory
negotiation followed. But Japan then
was weak. She had neither army nor
navy nor internal organization. In
/ deed. the country was almost on the
verge OF revolution. Japan could not
| resist. and the upshOt was that Rus
STA one day ended the controversy by
announcing that she would take SAX
halin and give Japan the Chishma
(Kuriles) islands, which Japan al
ready owned.
Japan has no desire to humiliate
Russia more than is necessary. and
even now is seeking to avoid wound
ing Russia's susceptibilities but pub
lie opinion in Japan is absolutely so
arm upon the main issues that no Jap
anese statesman could possibly dare
to withdraw the terms which have
been proposed as the bases Of peace.
THE Japanese government has only
asked what according to Japanese
ideas, are considered most moderate
terms. A strong party in Japan IA
vored claiming not only Sskhalin, the
Lisotung peninsula. protsctorate over
Korea and the evacuation Of Manchu'
ria. but also the cession to Japan OF
the territory around the month OF the
| Amur."
The question of the credentials has
|