Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-03-16

I
as the price TO be paid for staying the
leet OF the irresistible invader. the
Japanese attitude is one of extreme
moderation and fairness II toe czar
Is finally convinced tnat his cause Is
hopeless one and that peace must
be had there is high authority for the
statement that Japan will smooth his
way as much as possible and make II
as easy as circumstances admit foI
the Russians ~ swallow tneir pride
ana STOP the Colo Iustorjc,,
| 1t is prema Capitol Bn,li,' society
detail. Even the Japanese 10.
come to that. There is no substantial
evidence that the czar and his coun.
aelors have reached the point where
they are willing to inquire what terms
may be had from the victor, but 1t is
Is in no truculent or voracious mood.
| " the yanquished nation will but take
the trouble to learn the truth 1t viii
| md tnat Japan is now as ever ready
|
and to assure the loser that behind
the door reasonable man Will he
| round to deal with
This is precisely what Japan con
| Veyed to the czar, through Berlin and
| Washington, after the fall OF Port Ar
| tnur. Within a few days have rea-
son 10 believe. a similar intimation
will be conveyed. probably through
the same governments, as to the situ-
| alton created by the fall OF Mukden
and the virtual destruction of Kuro-
patkin's army as fighting force
Oi prime Importance is the fact that
AT the present time Japan's demands
are not likely to be much more oner-
Gus upon Russia than they We're Two
months ago We ale now able 10 get
an accurate and trustworthy account
OF what happened after the surrender
OF that fortress. The Japanese govern
men decided it would be the part OF
wisdom and homer for it to intimate
i'll some manner to the car that peace
might be had on reasonable terms pro
gided the czar were TO seek it. Ar
rangements were made to convey
these limitations in manner that
would neither put Japan in the false
attitude OF suing for peace nor i'm
pnge too sharply upon Russias
pride. Both President Roosevelt and
the emperor OF Germany were taken
into the secret The United States
was selected as Japan's next friend"
and the kaiser as the guide and coun-
sellor OF the cZsr. With their usual
tact the Japanese did not call upon
tne British government as the rela-
tions between st Petersburg and Lon
don are not as cordial as between the
Russian capital and Berlin
Both the kei8sr and the President
managed 10 discharge their part OF
the duty with tact and skill. The ka-
iser sent Prince Frederick to St Pet
ersburg to see the czar. In what man
ner President Roosevelt conveyed his
message 1t is not permitted TO state.
II is enough 10 know that such infiu-
ence as the German emperor ana the
American President We're able to ex-
ert in a delicate way was exerted i'll
behalf Of peace But without avail
The czar and his counsellors determin-
ed TO continu, the conflict till one vic
tory at least should come to soften
their wounded pride.
rhe intimations which Japan tnus
conveyed to the czar after the fall OF
Port Arthur were that settlement
might be mad on the following basis:
Port Arthur and the Lao Tung pen
insula to remain in japanese hands.
Korea to remain under Japanese
suzeraihty.
Russia 10 evacuate Mancnuris up
near TO Harbn.
The Chinese Eastern Railway from
Harbin to Port Arthur and Dainy to
pass under Japanese control
There was no suggestion OF an in
demnity and Vladivostok the original
terminus OF the Siberian railway was
left in Russia possession,
As soon as II became known in the
diplomatic and official world that
Oyama's brilliant strategy was sure
to overthrow kuropatkin at Mukden,
| speculation at once started up as TO
| the effect OF this almost unparalleled
defeat upon the outlook for peace.
| 1t was generally believed Japan would
| vastly enlarge her demands In ex-
| caedingly well informed quarters the
| opinion was expressed that. instead
.0f permitting Russia to retain Vladi-
| vostok, Japan would now demand ces-
sion of all of eastern Siberia. includ-
ing the railways east and south from
| Harbin. thus wiping Russia of the
map as power in the littoral Of the
pacihc ocean. not only stopping the
RUSSIAN advance to the sea, but
sweeping 1t backward thousand
miles in distance and half century
or more in time. 1t was also believed