The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-03-25
RUSSIAN MINISTER SAYS TERMS
WILL Be CONSIDERED.
Admits Bitter Defeat on Land and
and Sea, but Denies That Con-
tinuanCe OF Var Is an lmp0S-
sibility - Unreasonable Terms
would Cause Another War.


conflict, the Associated Press is in a
position to state that powerful influ-
ences, including several of the emper-
or's own ministers, are now strongly
urging that the time has come to iildi.
cate to Japan Russia's desire for peace
upon reasonable basis. Should ia
pan then attempt to impose too onerous
conditions, these influences argue that,
in view of the universal wish to see
the bloody conflict ended, Russia g
position will be strengthened abroad
by the alienation of sympathy from
Japan, and the situation at home i'm.
proved when the nation is made to IN
derstand that the emperor's pacific
proposals have been met with impos-
sible terms.
One of the emperor's ministers, in a
conversation with the Associated Press
said:
Rivals will Only Profit.
ave have suffered bitter defeat on
land and sea. We can, however, still
continue the war. But both countries
have suffered great losses in blood and
tire asure, and it would only profit the
rivals if both we're willing to fight on
until one or the other is exhausted.
Russia has had hard task fighting
the war against such adversaries six
thousand miles from home, and I con-
tend that she can make dignified
peace, without glory, but not without
honor
Gas the victor on land and sea, ia
pan can afford to renem Der, as Bis
marck did at the conclusion of the
Austro- Prussian war, that two coun-
tries which must live through the long
future as neighbors may need each 9TH
er's friendship. japan may consider
the time propitious, on account of the
situation in European Russia, to try to
crush. us. Suppose, for the sake of ar
gument, she succeeds in finally forcing
humiliating peace; it could not be
more than an armed truce. Russia is
too big and powerful to retire perma-
nently from the field. The clouds at
home will eventually roll away. With
the army and navy reorganized in Eve,
ten or fifteen years there will come in
evitably our revenge. No permanent
peace is possible now or later unless
Japan is reasonable"
Reasonable Peace First.
To the suggestion of the possibility
of an alliance between Russia and ia
pan, the minister said:
"a reasonable peace must first be
esta blished.'
"What would be 'reasona ble?' was
asked.
Broadly speaking, Russia's renunc-
iation of her entire Manchurian policy
should satisfy Japan's claims. She
could have her protectorate over Korea,
such privileges on the Kwantung Pc
ninsula as the powers would not op-
pose, and the Chinese Eastern railway
be placed under international control,
Russia maintaining her rights to a
railway line through Northern Man
churia to Vladivoseok.
"What would be Russia's attitude
on the subject of indemnity?'
"Russia never has paid indemnity,
and history practically affords no prec-
edent for indemnity when territory is
not occupied to insure payment, and
Japan holds not foot of Russian ter
ritory. Japan could, however, take
the proceeds of the sale of the property
and rights of the Chinese Eastern rail-
way, which was built with Russian
money!