Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-08-28
RUSSIA DECLINES TERMS
PREPARED BY PRESIDENT

yesterday that Russia re-purchase the
northern half of Sakhalin for 1900,
100000 yen contains no proposition.
The only difference between this and
the demand for indemnity is the
phraseology in which it is couched.
All that Japan does, the statement de-
clares, lis to join the question of
Sakhalin with that of cash payment
and to insist upon the war costs I'M
der the name of purchase money The
transaction is fictitious and the t6rmi
rology misleading. If what is pro-
posed 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 it
and conclude peace on the basis of
the concessions already made. Again
il purely business transaction were
indeed intended the value of the ter
ritory offered would be the basis on
which the two parties would treat
But here even this essential condition
is not observed. The price demand
ed for the northern half of the island
is 1,200,000000 yen, which is the orig
inal estimate of the war costs. Pos
sibly Japan may have fixed the sum
with the intention of whiting it down
to some extent later, but Russia,
mindful of her national honor, her
military strength and her historic ira
ditions, will not and cannot consent
to pay 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 genuine
desire for peace.
Matter of Dollars and Cents.
Japan having obtained all that she
needed and lOnged for as a nation, now
narrows the issue to question OF dol
lars and cents, yet refuses for the sake
OF peace to waive her demand. Rus
STA, on the contrary, has conceded
freely and fully everything she coult
give consistently with her sense Of ma,
tional honor and dignity. Hence. what
to Japan is but matter OF money is
to Russia a point of honor. To with,
draw the cash claim is therefore i'm.
measurably easier to Japan than it
would be for Russia to allow it. Rus
STA has suffered reverses owing to her
own lack OF organization. her unpre,
paredness and her internal disorders,
but she is still a mighty and uncon,
quered nation whose people will en-,
Enthusiastically uphold their representa-
tives in their firm resolve to keep the
national escutcheon immaculate"
The statement continues, IF, there
fore, the efforts of American friends
are to be crowned with success, il the
labors Of the conference are to be
ended in smoke and il the effusion OF
blood in the far east is to be termfn.
ated, it behooves Japan to make
frank declaration that she withdraws
once for all and without reserve her
demand to. have her war costs paid in
any shape Or FORM
1t concludes with the declaration
that peace is not and cannot be as.
sured until Japan unreservedly with
draws her claim to have the costs or
the campaign refunded by Russia
Russians Proposed Division.
Portsmouth, Aug. 24-From an au-
thoritative Japanese source the Associ-
ated Press is informed that the propo-
siton to divide the island of Sakhalin
came from the Russian SIDE
Meyer Confers With Gar.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 24-American
Ambassador Meyer had an audience
with the emperor at Peterhof yester-
day afternoon, which lasted three
hours. Presumably peace was dis
cussed at length, but nothing can be
ascertained at present regarding what
actually took place. as the embassy de-
clines to give out any statement. 1t
is known, however, that a long cable
message has been sent to Washington
giving the results of the conference.
Never Consent to Indemnity.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 24-The Asso-
ciated Press has the best of reasons
and authority for declaring again, with
increased emphasis, that Russia will
never consent to the payment of in
demnity to Japan. Furthermore, the
Associated Press has the same reasons
and authority for the DECLARE ton that
if Japan withdrew her indemnity de-
rnand, peace would practically be as
sured, as Russia's attitude on the 9TH
er three points, including the cession