Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-27
MADE NO ADVANCES
PROPOSALS FOR PEACE NOT COM
ING FROM JAPAN.
Minister Takahira Realizes That Rus
STA is Not in Frame of Mind
to Discuss Surrender.

Japan, through her minister at Washing
ton, Mr. Kogoro Takahira, has denied the
report that she is suing for peace. In an
authorized statement on the subject Mr..
Takahira says:
ION such matters Of great importance
and Of delicacy, it is my opinion that, as
a rule, it is not easy to obtain accurate in
formation regarding the actual situation,
and therefore 1t is not unnatural that the
public Is misled more or less through misap-
prehension and misstatement in the press
Moreover 1t has been clearly understood
from the outset that Japan has not been
fighting for the sake of fighting. but that
she was forced to war for the sake of
principle and the result has been thus far
in favor of Japan. She has fortunately
been the victor at every battle on land and
sea- This seems to have led to the general
impression that Japan can make overtures
for peace without so much inconvenience as
otherwise would be the case and that 1t
must be Japan which is in a position to
take the initiative in ending the war. Con-
sequently, this impression appears to have
created the rumor that Japan gave express
sion through me to desire for peace.
But there is not one bit of truth in this
rumor. You can deny it on my authority
absolutely, and without reservation. Japan
mel repeat most emphatically.
You will readily understand whether
Japan can make such oVertures or not If
you give little consideration to the actual
circumstances. While it is true that Japan
has been honored with success of her arms
so far it is equally true that it has made
no apparent effect upon Russia Through
her representatives Russia has been con-
stantly declaring that she will fight to the
end until she wins one more decisive
battles. We think it is not queer for such
a large country as Russia, a country with
such enormous strength of men and such
an extraordinary amount of resources to
think of a final success in the war with us
We have therefore prepared to fight as long
it is necessary, and it only some
weeks ago that the imperial diet voted for
the budget to run from April 1908
until March, 1906, and all necessary meas
ures being taken in Japan to conduct
the war at least for another year.
Under the circumstances you can safely
say that although Japan is ready for peace
on such reasonable terms as would insure
a lasting peace, which has been the case
from the commencement of hostilties, she
knows she cannot make it with a nation
which is not of the same frame of mind
and it is unrea sonable to expect us to make
any suggestion in that direction, and even
more out of the question for US to formu-
late the terms of peace which are in a great
measure to depend on the progress and re-
suit of the war.
Suppose you and l make a quarrel" the
minister laughingly suggested land / sue
coed in throwing you down once or twice
by means of jiu jitsu, we will say, in spite
of your youth and superior physical condi-
ton. Naturally you are so much offended
that you think you want revenge. Do YOU
think | can make overtures to you to come
to good terms of friendship? No decidedly
not.
I'm the same way, if Japan proposed
peace at the present juncture it is more
than certain that she would not get 1t ex-
cept by sacrifice of the advantageous no.
sition which she has gained at an enor-
nous cost of life and treasure Put il down
therefore as certain that the peace talk of
the last few days you can surely believe
was not created in Japan, but in some other
land