Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-03
DIssArrsFAcrrov ON BOTH SIDES

lihNA Ilo tAJIlDN w bUA ~ Ntbbc
1t is not at all remarkable that in
both Japan and Russia there are people
who are dissatisfied with the peace set
tlement 1t was to have been expected,
no peace ever having been effected to
the satisfaction Of everybody in the
countries that were parties to the set
tlememt In the present case a very
large portion of the people Of Japan,
particularly the financial and CONNER
cial elements, felt that the demand for
an indemnity covering the cost Of the
war was justified and should have been
insisted upon. even at the cost of con
tinuing the war indefinitely. Believing
that their armies would have achieved
more victories and ultimately been able
TO enforce the claim for reimbursement,
they regard the abandonment of that
demand as an inexcusable surrender.
There is also dissatisfaction with the
division of Sakhalin, which as conquered
territory Japan had an unquestionable
right to. The mikado and his advisers
and the peace ENJOYS have been sub
iected to some pretty sharp criticism
from the disgruntled element, which de-
clares that the concessions made have
robbed Of their just reward the victories
on land and sea.
Russian dissatisfaction relates chiefly
to the cession of the southern half Of
Sakhalin, the feeling being that this
was an unnecessary surrender of ter
ritory that is humiliating to the nation.
Other objections to the terms of the
paper saying: I'VE must acknowledge
that the peace terms are most disad-
vantageOus. We cannot rejoice over
them. We have lost too much" OF
course the iingo element which wanted
the army to have another chance to try
the fortune of war, in the confident feel
ing that Russia would win in another
great battle, was not pleased with the
result of the conference and may even
now make an effort to put some obstacle
in the way of ratification of the treaty.
There are far better reasons for the
Japanese than for the Russian dissatis-
faction. While Japan obtains all for
which she went to war, still she gets
nothing that was not won by her mill
tary and naval superiority at great cost
in men and money. OF course her ma
tiOnal existence is freed from menace
and made secure and this is worth a
20 nf nj
seem, ought to silence complaint on the
part of her people and make them con-
tent with a peace that will enable them
to proceed untrammeled with the indus
trial and commercial development, re-
coupling for the cost of war by their
enterprise in wider fields of activity
than before. Moreover, in preferring
peace to money Japan has attained n
higher place in the esteem and admira-
ton of the world and this is of very
great value. In this she achieved a
moral victory that is most heartily COM
mended by all mankind. 1t has been
rightly characterized as the finest ex-
ample of moderation and magnanimity
| OH I1e puTL OI IL NlClOTlOuS udllOu Ill ull
history. This should be a cause of pride
to every citizen of the island empire. As
to Russia she lost little that was right
fully and legitimately hers and dissatis-
faction on the part of any of her people
with the result of the peace conference
is utterly unreasonable She lost In n
cause that had no sympathy or support
from the enlightened and impartial judg-
ment of mankind and she owes to ia
pans generosity and earnest desire for
| peace avoidance of a greater penalty
! than she has paid for her bad faith and
her inordlnate lust for aggrandizement
The Russian people should enthusiastic.
ally approve the result of the peace
conference and recognize with gratitude
the magnanimlty of Japan. There is nc
reason TO believe that dissatisfaction
will long continue in either country OF
that 1t will interfere with the consum.
! nation of peace.