The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-08
At Luncheon with Mead.
RUSSIA FRAMES DEMANDS
Witte Will Ask Pay for Ships Japs
Took or Sunk.

Took or Sunk.
New York Sun Special Service.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. S.-When
Russia s peace commission arrived in
New York it's members stated emphati-
cally that never, under any clrcum-
stances, would their government agree
to eede territory - to o. Japan; FolloT ing
secretaries of the commission, the state
ment was made that the car would au-
thorize the transfer to Japan of the
island of Saghalien, or at least that
portion which was taken from the Toxic
government almost thirty-fve years ago.
ways, first in revealing that Russia is
disposed to go far in order to restore
peace in the far east, and second that
she is not averse to ceding territory.
The Russian diplomat who made the
statement placed special stress upon the
expected demand relating to Sagha-
lien and the indemnity, not questioning
the acceptance Of other demands relat-
ing to Manchuria, Korea and Port
Arthur.
Fighting Big Indemnity.
ut is impossible for Russia to give
$4,000. 000--impossible,' he said; But
his mind had been active evidently in
finding ways to reduce the Japanese DE-
"We shall ask" he said; "that ia
pan give us credit for the value of the
railroad connecting Port Arthur and
Dalny and the points now in possession
Of the Japanese troops, and for the
ships captured in the battle Of the, Sea
OF. Japan, and those which have been
raised at Port Arthur
There has been some talk about the
former suggestion, but the Japanese un-
doubtedly will regard the latter as a
preposterous proposition. In regard to
Japan? 3 making allegiance var for, the rail.
potentiaries have in their possession a
copy Of the Franco-Prussian treaty
which ended the war of 1871. That
treaty granted compensation to France
for the railroads in Alsace-Lorraine, the
territory coded by France to Prussia,
the amount being $50 100000.
Japs Want Railroad Control.
When in New York a Japanese au-
thority was asked how much compen-
sation, if any, would be allowed Rus
STA for the railroad connecting Port
Arthur and Hardin.
t0f course, we will demand sole con-
tho we expect Russia to propose inter
national control. We have been trying
to figure how much the road cost. The
Russian government expended $685.
100000 in constructing the line from
Manchuria station, on the frontier be-
tween Trans Baikalia and Manchuria
to the Ussuri district, in which Vladi-
Hardin to Port Arthur. A great part
of this sum went into the pockets Of
the railroad builders and contractors.
In Japan, we build railroads at cost
of about 100000 mile; the cost Of the
Trans, Manchurian line must have been
over 100000 a mile.
''The branch from Hardin to Port
their retreat at the beginning Of hostil
tiles the Russian troops destroyed every
bit Of the line as they fell back. Cost
ly railroad bridges were blown up and
everything, in fact, done to cripple the
road. The Japanese engineers had to
lay new tracks. It is not to be ex-
pected, therefore, that we will allow
she will ask, and it is not at all GER
tain that she will be granted penny s
worth Of credit.'
Demand Pay for Ships.
The Russians claim they have a
precedent for demanding that Japan
shall make some allowance for the ships
in the sea Of Japan, but what it is
they are keeping back and will use it
in their representations to the Japanese
ENJOYS.
Japanese newspaper representatives
here say their countrymen never will
permit the government. to make any
allowance for the ships sunk, at Port
Arthur in order to prevent their cap
| ture and those which were taken as a
result of the fierce fight in the open
| sea.
Had the Russians taken the hon
orable course, they would never, in the
opinion Of these journalists, have sunk
their ships at Port, Arthur, but would
have turned them over with the other
property TO tbs conquerors. h
! They add that had it not been for the
quickness Of the Japanese officers and
men in boarding the battleship Orel
and the two coast defer~e vessels which
were captured in the Sea Of Japan,
they, too, would have been sunk. Con
sequently, Japan, they declare, has no
reason to make allowances for the
ships. -
The willingness of the Russians to
cede half of Saghalien island and. to
search for means to reduce the indenl-
| nifty has. given a stronger peace tinge
to the discussion here than has vet de.
veloped.
WITH IMPURE DRINKING WATER
| YY,o 3, @s5