Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-24
CONCESSIONS BY THE JAPANESE
CONTINUED from Page One.)

pers predicted, that the ENJOYS Of Jap
an came forward at today's sitting
with a proposal which was new In
form. but old in substance. 1t Is equal
w true that that proposal lacks the TWO
contentious clauses stipulating that
Russia shall surrender to japan her
disarmed warships and limit her naval
strength on the Pacific and that II re-
duces the differences between the two
powers to the compass of what Is IN ap-
nearance a single question. the sale Oh
| Sakhalin.
| seemingly, therefore. Japan has also
| struck her pen through the most op
| roxious clause of all-that Whlcn DEALS
with indemnity, and ell that she no"
asks Russia to do in addition to the
terms already agreed upon, is to pur-
| obaea the northern half Of Sakhalin Tor
a sum of one milliard and two hundred
,oillfon ven, Isl, 100000. 0oG. And this
alleged simplification of terms Is sup
nosed to provide Russia with an ac-
canta HE basis for a peace treaty.
| AT first sight. the offer may perhaps
seem new to some. but closer examin-
/ att0n VIII SHOW IL W EC Az Oh CooOhlAdio
identical with the proposal already re-
| iected by Russia's rlenirotentiaries.
| Only a person unfamiliar with war, in
love with humanitarianisin foreign to
Russia and incompetent to judge Of
Russia's national honor and dignity
could descry in those terms the source
Of a new impulse given to the peace ne
gotiat lions. But a grevious mistake was
| committed by those who imagine that
| the plenipotentiaries OF the Gar. the
representatives of the Russian nation.
would take the husk for the kernel.
| the shadow for the substance. A per-
son of average intelligence can see
that what is now in this proposal Is the
rhraseology in which it is coached.
THE elimination of the two clauses
stipulating that Russia's disarmed
warships be handed over to Japan and
her naval strength on the Pacific be
restricted brings no new element Into
the transaction. The disarmed ships
in question are Rusia's by right and
to ask that they be handed over to
Japan. Is to demand a breach of the
law Of nations. Again the limitation
of Russia's naval effectiveness on the
Pacific, is meaningl SIS because she viii
be unable for quarter, or 1t may be
half 4 century to dispose of warships
enough to keep a squadron there equal
to Japan's, while it would be fruitless
to maintain a smaller one. Conse-
lquently to speak of these things as
concessions is but to play with words
1T is equally childish to affirm that
Japan foregoes her claim for an in
ldemnity because the new proposal does
mot actually mention It, All that she
docs is to join the question Of Sakhalil
with that of a cash payment and to
Insist upon war costs under the name
of purchase money. The transaction
is fictitious and the Technology mis-
Heading. If what Is proposed be in
truth. a purchase and sale it should be
treated as such; and therefore should
Russia decline to buy the territory
! Japan should keep 1t and conclude
; peace on the basis Of the concession
ALREADY made
Again. if a purely business transac'
! ton were indeed intended. the value o
the territory offered would be the basi:
, on which the two parties would treat
But here even this essential condition
is not observed. The price demanded
for the northern half of the island i:
. l. 200 100000 yen which is the origina
estimate Of the war costs. Possibly
japan may have fixed that sum witt
the intention of whiting it down tt
some extent later on, but Russia. mind
Iful Of her national honor, Of her mill
ltary strength ard of her historic tradi-
tons, will not and cannot consent tt
pay a war indemnity by whatsoever
name it may be called, nor can she
, nor indeed the world at large, regard
Japan's proposal as proof of a gen.
: uine desire for peace.
'Jaran having obtained all that sh'
needed and longed for as nation nov
narrows down the issue TO a question o.
dollars and cents, yet refuses for peace
sake to waive her demand. Russia on th'
contrary has conceded freely and fully
everything she could give consistently
with her sense of national honor and dig
, nifty. Hence what to Japan is but mat
ter of money Is to Russia point Of hon
, or. To withdraw the cash claim is there
fore imn.easurably easier TO Japan thar
II would be for Russia to allow it. Russia
has suffered rcverses owing TO her owl
/ lack of organization. her unpreparednes
still a mighty and unconquered nation
. whose people will enthusiastically hold uI
| their heaQS IN resolve 10 keep the Ma
tional scutcheon immaculate. Whatever
else may be affirmed or denied of them
that is true. They alone are the Judge:
, of what can and what cannot be done II
Russias name. If, therefore, the effort:
of American friends nre to be crowned
with success. II the labors of the confer
ence are not TO end in smoke and If th'
effusion of blood in the Far East Is tC
he terminate 1t behooves japan ITO make
4 frank declaration that she withdraw.
once for all and without reserve her de
mand to have her war costs paid in any
shape or form. Therefore. despite the pos
tive and emphatic declaration of the wei
meaning hut mistaken journalists alluded
to above, peace Is not and cannot be as
lsured until Japan unreServedly withdraw
her claim ito have the costs of the cam
paign refunded by Russia"
| When shown the above statement. n
competent japanese authority declined 10
make any reply. I'VE are rot talking.
said he. I'VE are not fighting this battle
In the newspapers. When all is over we
will give our side of the story to the
world.
THE MORNING SESSION
Gave No Developments, But Devoted
| to Settling Disputes.