Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-20
The Liars Progress.


egregious a charlatan does NJ. Sergius
Wittc appear TO American eyes. Indeed II
he continues at his present rate of progress
sion he will have established himself upon
his arrival at st. Petersburg as the cham
pion liar of two hemispheres. NJ. Wittc has
only reached Paris and already he has set
forth his claims as the diplomatic marvel
or the age In terms that suggest that he
has mistaken his calling. He should be
standing In an open barouche at some busy
street corner loudly preaching the miracu-
lous qualities of an Indian cure-aI
Let his assertions printed in the Paris
Matin, and reproduced in yesterdays Star,
be examined in detail. They do not bear
araly sis.
m. Witte said that he noticed after his
arrival In the United States a sudden
change in American opinion in favor of
Russia, and he look into account the adj
vantage which he might derive from Ameri-
can popular opinion in attaining the object
he had I'm View.
From whom did NJ White learn of the
change Of sentiment? From the curiosity
seeking hotel loungers at Portsmouth?
From the silly women who ranged in gig
Cling rows on the porches of the Went
worth and watched his hulking figure
paradlng in review? Surely. there was no
sign OF change in the American press NJ.
Witte did in truth occupy the center Of the
stage and was an interesting midsummer
diversion. but the sympathies of the nation
did not waver for an instant from Japan as
the rfghtful victor In the war. Lie number
one.
In order TO accentuate this movement of
opinion he resolved to yield very quickly on
al the demands of Japan that appeared
just so as eventually to place the negotia-
hq ais of ind
then able to invoke principles of humanity
and leaVe with Japan the responsibility of
shedding more blood for question of
money alone
rms assertion has already been exposed
In all Its Stiffness. 1t is 4 plain truth that
no matter in what order the terms were
discussed, the question of indemnity would
sooner or later have proved to be the final
barrier to peace. 1t mattered not whit
whether the Japanese reserved this demand
to the last or the Russians interposed their
objections to 1t at the outset And there
was no effect upon the American sympathy
in the final concentration of the issue upon
a question of a money indemnity There
was throughout and there is yet pro-
nounced sentiment in support of Japan's
demand. Lie number two
The next lie Is a composite:
The American press took the same stand
point and reproached Japan with her want
of dssinterestedness. President Roosevelt
was moved He appealed to Baron Kaneko,
made him cognizant of what was going on
and warned him that his country need no
longer rely upon the support of America II
she persisted In continuing the war on the
sole question of money. Kaneko immedi-
atefy cabled Japan in dismay, and the
mikado's government executed an about
face"
Japan, though warmly appreciative of
American sympathy, at no time depended
upon 1t for support In her Anal position.
The American press stood for the Japanese
insistence upon indemnity to the last, and
the first wave of expression throughout the
country after the announcement of the
peace terms was one of disappointment that
Japan had not won the indemnity. Presi-
dent Roosevelts part In the peace move
was merely that of intermediary He made
no special appeal to Baron Kaneko. He
did. 1t Is understood. convey to Japan,
through this agency. the fact that Russia
was prepared to resume the fighting II the
indemnity was insisted upon. He merely
acquainted Japan with the situation, and It
was left TO the emperor and the elder
statesmen of Japan to choose their own
course. uninfiuenced save by their Judgment
as to the needs of their country. Their
decision wise and displayed their pa
triotism and sagacity and humanity. Lie
composite-numb Der three.
NJ. White had already displayed himself
as braggart. He now adds to his protean
qualities that Of an intrepid IL not especially
accomplished prevaricator In the face of
the known facts. he is trying to make the
American public. the most Intelligent body
OF people in the world. believe that he out
Unanswered Japan at Portsmouth. He
must be a fool well a braggart and a
liar. and withal he is merely typical Rus
sian diplomat