The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1905-10-03
SAYS RUSSIA
WAS GENEROUS
Continued from page one).


personalities regarding Chinese mat
ters. L was not one of the peace ennis
saries. No. China did not make any
application for representation on the
Peace Commission. She simply an
nOunced that she reserved the right
wherein matters affecting her interests
were dealt with in the peace conference
to protest against them, if she thought
that her interests so demanded.
81 regard as great deed the action
of President Roosevelt in bringing the
two nations together to the conference.
AS to what part his influence played in
the matter of finally effecting an agree
ment between the emissaries is con-
cerned, 1 am unable to say but GER
tainly the mere fact of having brought
the two parties to agree to hold the
conference is a most material point,
for at least half. of the work was done
when they agreed to come together, to
consider peace.
mo, 1 can not say that 1 was es-
pecially surprised when 1 heard of
the severity of the Japanese demands.
You know that when such claims are
first made they are framed so that
compromises can be reached. And it
was so in the present case. Japan was
not alone in making concessions for
consider that Russia made them also.
She made them in the cession Of the
southern part of the island of Saghalin
The Japanese did not hold any legal
possession or title to this island and
ii was the only Russian territory where
she had any foothold. Russian ala
not recognize any legal right that
Japan had to that island but she con-
ceded half of the island.
"The instructions of our representa-
tives was that not one cent of in
demnity should be paid to Japan by
Russia. 1t was to the interest of both
nations to end war but Russia took the
position that she was not in any sense
conquered and she was perfectly able
to continue the struggle rather than
pay any indemnity but if she could Sc
cure peace without the payment Of an
indemnity she was perfectly willing TO
do so, Certainly l presume that the
Japanese emissaries received instruc-
tons from their home government di-
recting them to recede from the con-
tentiOn for an indemnity.
Russia surrendered her leases in
the Liaotung Peninsula and that por-
ton of the China Eastern Railroad
which was in the possession of the Jap
anese troops. The Japanese held thOs
railway for some miles north of Muk-
den but the most of the line was still
retained by Russia. Russia did not
have many material interests in Man
churia. She had few mining con-
cessions and the leases. According to
the terms of the treaty the Russians
and Japanese agreed to evacuate Man
churia within eighteen months from
the ratification of the treaty. 1t re-
quires time to effect the evacuation of
a territory by a large force of troops
and the soldiers will be gradually with
drawn.
Another point granted to Japan was
the right of her citizens to fishing pri-
vileges alon the Siberian coast. This
was not a material point however for
she had asked for that privilege some
time before, and it would probably
have been granted in the course of
time without the war.
what effect do l thing that the
treaty of peace will have upon the re-
lations of Japan and Russia? Well,
automatically replied NJ. PokOtilow Il
am unable to say anything regarding
that matter. l can speak only regard
ing China. l was there as the adviser
on Chinese matters only.
The Zamstvo which has been called |
s,, II, -k. cd a
Russian Parliament. Naturally the |
powers of such a body will be limited
at first for it is not wise to entrust too
much power to such body. But 1t |
is the first step. The Zamstvo will be |
an advisory body but it will have GER
tain powers, limited of course a first
Minister PokotilOw visited Honolulu |
ten years ago on the S. S. China. He
was director of the Russian Bank at
Peking and manager OF the Bank at |
st. Petersburg. He was made Russian |
Minister at Picking on the death of
Minister Lesser some time ago.
Minister Pokotilow expressed the be- |
lief that the disturbances in Japan
growing out of discomfort over the |
terms of the peace treaty, would not |
prove of a serious or permanent char |
acter. "The Japanese are politicians"
he said and they take a keen interest |
in all matters pertaining to their gov
eminent There are always found peo- |
pie who would be disconnected with |
anything and had an indemnity been
agreed to, there would probably have
been an element that would have been |
dissatisfied"