Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-19
RUSSIAN WRITER ON sAKHALrN
Says Japanese Would Make Better
Use of Island,


PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug 1s.-Having
read the statement from Japanese MEM
Der OF Parliament, made a few days ago
TO the Associated Press. giving the Japa-
nese attitude regarding Sakhalin, Alexandra
Briantchaninoff, correspondent OF the Siovo
of st. Petersburg, voicing the Russian ex-
ceptions to the statement, said today:
One Of the great bars to the conclusion
o. a treaty OF peace. 50 much desired by
between the plenipotentiaries on the ques-
ton Of sakhalin. The Japanese pretend
their empire. They say it only came into
Russias possession through force and that
to japan as ii has sbewn Esdins back 3;
exploit its resources, having used IL only
for colonial ton of CRIMINALS. The Japanese
ways considered Themselves the riEhtful
owners, and having now taken It by con-
quest win never submit to relinq flushing it.
or course, 1t is certain that the Japanese,
once in legal possession of the island, will
accomplish there much more than the Rus
in an agricultural, industrial and colon,4Ing
way, but especially in military and
success OF their arms has given them GER
tain claims to the island. but those are the
only claims they possess.
I But possession can, only be legaliZed by
the ratification of a treaty.
| 1t Is an error for them to claim historical
turn the sRand MSs 10 te onH Si5 y tSs
native barbaric tribes. Then a few Rus
sian colonists landed and occupied certain
gan fishing in the waters OF the southern
end Of the island Some very small fish
At last the legal status of the island
arose. Propositions were made TO divide
IT between Russia and Japan. The Japa-
the island and their political interests
there were 50 limited that in 1855 (treaty Of
buTNl the JRnanaaR nnlV asked he mi
tation OF the frontier between the two pos
sessions al the extreme south OF the island.
AFFAIRS Soiessima. proposed TO Russia 70
! cede the japanese part Of the island in
Saest WITCH they hen
| Corea, and finally, In 1875, 1t was the
japanese who transferred the pourparlers
regarding the island 10 81; Petersburg and
| brought them 10 a conclusion, receiving
| In return for their possessions in south
sakhalln the Russian KuriIes They never
NO one In Japan protested against this
treaty, their fishing Interests in the waters
| They then made no pretensions Of COLOMBIA
| ton there, as tley had not yet completed
IN 69e col colonization Of the most northsrly
instead OF desiring TO extend their coll
onization efforts northwaTd, they had
prospects TO the west and South-Cores.
| Formosa and the Philippines The claim
| to historical and national rights to the
island are therefore not warranted The
| Japanese, In a word are seeking to PROFIT
by their present success TO completely
| and definitely assure their paramount posi-
| ton in the far east Sakhalin In their
| hands means Yladivostok, Russia's sole and
| insufficient base on the Pacihc, at the
! mercy OF Japan. Vladivostok could be at
| tackled from three sides. Russia would no
I longer have the possibility OF resisting
| japanese encroaehTnent. AT its bidding Il
| would be compelled TO withdraw from its
position In the, Orient. Japan,,s claim 70
| Sakhalin is easily cOmprehended. But Il ia
| impossible TO understand the lack OF fore
| sight OF America, France, ana even Eng
| land which do not seer tbi realize the i'm
pending and far-reaehing consequences.