New-York tribune., 1905-08-12

terms. Among the Russian newspaper corre-
spondents they We're regarded as impossible, and
the opinion was expressed that they would be
received with resentment by the Russian people
The PRONUNCIATION of the scheme for a national
assembly, in their opinion. would strengthen the
hands Of the Russian plenipoteutiaries by relleY-
ing the internal situation and arousins a sent-
ment against national humiliation which the
people would now have an opportunity Ia voice
In their opinion the answer of the Russian people
Of all classes. barring, of course, the radical
revolutionists, would he against a cesson Of
territory and the payment of an immense war in
demnity
Writing to his paper, the "Jiji shimpo.' at
Toxic, Rihei Onishi expresses great satisfaction
with the progress of the peace negotiations. and
particularly with the manner in which the Jap
anese ENJOYS are conducting the case Of their
country. He says that their method of doing
business is direct and absolutely devoid Of red
tape and. so far as they are concerned. treaty
of peace might be signed to-day He comments
on the necessity Of the Russian pienipotentiaTies
sending the japanese terms to the Gar If
Russia cannot accept the terms" he announces,
"aI right; we viii go on fighting"
However, he sees no reason for haste in the
negotiations The position of Japan. he says. is
much better to-day than at the beginning of the
war. There is no Russian navy now; there is
no Port Arthur. no Lao Yang, no Moukden, and
our army is in possession Of Saghalien and
threatening the communication of VIadivostok."
He expresses the belief that the whole civilized
world VIII agree that the peace terms Of Japan
are reasonable. consequently, if the conference
fails, it VIII be due TO Russia. Should that hap
pen, he sees no hope for anything except a fight
10 the bitter end. There is. he says no other
nation which could. with the Observance of the
proper proprieties. suggest subsequent negotia-
tons for peace.
Alexander Brantchaninof. correspondent OF
the ST Petersburg "s'ovo'' writing on the peace
situation, says
President Roosevelt in his toast 10 the p.eai-
potentaries, put as The object -ot the nagoUa-
tons The conclusion Of just and lasting
peace Tt is 10 he regretted that personality
30 independent ia his opinions and So universally
reasons easily understood, explicitly state what
he means by Just and lasting peace" but has
10 leave II To the two beilis-rents themselves
70 arrive al an understanding on The subject.
But an understanding is not easy. The IDEAS
OF a Just peace differ widely i'm the two couu-
tiles. An excited state of public feeling exists
IN Japan. The japanese are eated With the
successes which they themselves did not expect,
while IN Russia the people are wounded by un-
expected reVerseS Leaving 10 the Japanese the
care of speaking from their point of view. l. in
my capacity as a Russian. can only give the
reasons why We oppose certain japanese preteu-
slons though we at the same time recognize the
rights they acquire through the success OF their
arms
No peace can he lasting # not just from the
viewpoint Of those VINO are moi victorious.
DtLerwIeC tho: would Toe forever auir07te7 hy
tae feeling Of resentment and desire for re-
venge. Il is false reasoning 70 base demand
Tor an indemnity upon the statement that we
forced Japan into tails nae. and taat therefore
we must Reimburse her The expenses She sus-
tanned. According 70 our Eie}@, Japan declared
war 20 force Us tp cV4ruate -f0nchuria. solemn
IS proclaiming that she did uat wish territorial
expansion. but thar her purpose was TO defend
the political equilibrium of the Far East threat
ened by oar presence in Manchuria. We under
stand that after 1895 war became inevitable
from japanese point Of view, and japan pre-
pared herself for 81 shown by her Victories
The leaders Of our government aid not under
stand II IN time, ard Russia has now undergone
the sad consequences; but about one fact there
may be no discussion. namely. that japan con-
stdering this the opportunc moment hurried TO
attack US, without declaration of war. without
even warning Us through utimatum
For these reasons consider the PAYMENT
OF an indemnify unjust in principle Besides
We could not contemplate the idea OF peace
without n feeling 0f revenge should we be de-
prived Of the island of Saghalien whence our
possession Of the Amoor would be Threatened
Therefore the cesson Of that island would be n
source Of continuous resentment between the
two peoples. who. instead. should be united by
"A cordial and solia understanding. We should
have peace, not truce. According 10 my view
a solution might be found by Russia buying