New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
Uncle Sam the Arbffer.
The Amount of Russas Eventual Indemnity japan Likely
Depend Largely Upon American

and under the circumstances Il may be ASSUMED
that for their own sake rather than Tor that Of
Russia the powers in question will be disposed 20
disCCuntenanCe the demands OF Japan upon the
Gar for biz war indemnity Russia may %
depended on To oppose tooth and nan lts pay
InenC and its mention among the conditions OF
peace viii prove Il powerful arm in the hands o.
those subjects OF Emperor Nicholas VINO are II
favor OF continuing the war TO the dean.
convinced that in the long run Russia Is bound
to win, If by no other means than the mere eX-
hauStiOn of the military and monetary re-
sources of her aneTnv Moreover IL must be
confessed that even those Russians who are
most anxious to bring the present conflict IN
Manchuria 10 q close will be disposed TO prefer
to the handing over to the japanese OF half a
billion of dollars S the price Of purchase
peace the employ rneI4t OF that sum Tor the con.
unuance of the struggle, with the chance OF
ultimate victory
Even admitting the possibility Of Russia being
driven, so 70 speak, 10 her very last trencneS,
and forced 10 accept all the conditions OF peace
which il may please Japan to impose. including
the promise of payment OF a large war indeIl-
nifty, it IS exceedingly doubtful whether any Of
the money would ever hnQ IT'S way into the
national treasury at Toxic. Tor past experience
goes TO show that occupation OF the defeated
eneny's territory until the cash has been turned
over 10 the veto. constitutes about the Only
guarantee that can be secured for the satisfac-
ton OF the debt. The German troops IN 1871 did
not evaCuaJe French territory until the last
Centime of the 81 OOO 100000 indemnity exaCteG
by Prince Bismarck had been turned over 10 the
German government, France, moreover being
compelled 10 bear the burden OF expense OF the
Ieutcn army or occupation on her soil penGlng
speaking. Japan does not hold or occupy any
Russian territory at the present moment, for not
only MaAchuria, which for the last twelve
months has been the Held OF the military opera
tionS between the two belligerenJs but also the
LiaO-TUng Peninsula and Port Arthur, form an
integral part Of the Chinese Empire, and Il is
doubtful IL Russia could be induced TO surrender
any OF her possessions or the Pacific coast
further north. and which have remained until
now altogether outside OF the range OF the war.
as a guarantee for payment Moreover, lei Us
even say that II Russia were compelled 20 fur
nish territorial collateral of this nature for the
payment or the indemnity, II STANDS 20 reason
that she would prefer % leave the territory N
question in the hands OF the japanese until n a
position to recover IL by force. rather than pay
anything like SJO0.OO0.O0O TO the AIikai0s gov
ernment.
Russia herself has still large amount OWNS
TO her IN the way OF unpaid war indemnity A.
the close of her conflict with Turkey. IN 1871
she concluded peace with the Sultan at san
Stetano. under the very walls OF ConstaRtnople
whereby the sublime Porte was bound by treaty
TO pay war indemnity OF S75OO00O00 this rep
resenting the expenses Of the war. the cost OF
damage done to the south coast Of Russia. to her
export commerce. Industries and railroads; also
or Injuries caused by the Turkish invasion OF
the Caucasus, and of damage sustained BY Rus
sian subjects and establishments in Turkey. Al
the congress OF Berlin a year later tne So
powers. under the direction OF Prince BisnlarcA
compelled the Car 70 cut down the amount o.
tne lhdeUIllty TO S2UO,tRN,utN-that IS 70 say Os
nearly 20 per ccnt-and inasmuch as no terri
toFlal collateral was given to Russia for the pas
msnt OF this sum- and she was not permitted 20 20
n settlement had been made, the indemnity To-
mains unpaid 10 this day
turkey. however, at the close or her war WIN
Greece eight years ago, absolutely declined %
eVacuate Hellenic territory until the AtheIS
government had paid to the very last cent tne
war Indemnity Of S2OOOOOOO The SUolms
Porte mad demanded $50 O0O0OO in the hrs'
place, but this sum was scaled down as eXtor-
tionate by the great powers. The latter also
forced Japan at the close of her war with CHINA
TO reduce her demand upon China 70 S1JOVW-
OUN which was paid ever az ShiInonoseN ny =
Chinese plenipOtentiaries before The Japaness
evacuated Port Arthur and Manchurian terri
tory. None OF the powers. however. dreamed o
attempting 10 compel Germany 10 reduce tns
Wal indemnity which she eNacteo from EEs.CSS
In 1871. Or the Indemnity OF SiOtGoOCp Whlcn
Prussia extorted from Austria at the close OF
their war In 1866. II must not be assumed that
tndenlnities constitute inevitable cCrollary %
the conditions OF peace after every war- 1hS
United States at the close 81 trouble WIN
Spain not only refralned from asking for any L-
uernnity; but even went so far as te eccos-
sum Of S2O.O0O0O to the defeated foe by way q
compensation for the latter's loss OF the Pnihl
pine Islands. Germany and Austria aSaeu -
Indemnity from Denmark at the close Of the va VA
OF 1864. any money demanded by lJsG
and France at the termination Of their conhiO'
with Austria IN 1889.
From the above it viii be seen that war In
IDENTITIES, which may be regarded as tAe hoa-
err counterpart OF the tribute imposed oy 'Is ~
victor upon the vanQuiShed IN ancient times "
not by any means constitute an accepted piIl-
ciple OF International law. Sometimes they az
asked ard In other Instances no demand Is lLee -
for them. There is no recognized rule OF PISSSsSt
dent for computing them, or for obtaining - -
payment after the amount has been agreed uPO.-'
and IL neutral powers can agree upon any 80
Certed action they viii always be inCliAeo ~
compel extensive scaling down OF the 80. So
named. Moreover. there can be no sHarAssTS. -.
for the satisfaction Of the debt thus incurred -
the vanquished unless the victor ny msass -
mil tary occupation retains possession or tstt'
tOrial collateral From this IL Will be seen - s
the prosDSct Of the Japanese obtaining t4ae ~.
sum of $50Ots0OtO from the Russians Is - -. \,
remote. and that II the question OF tndeninia
insisted upon ny the NikatQS ddViSets -
hkely to prove an iusuperabe obstacls 70 tns
successful conclusion Of aegotiations for peas
E.N,ATTAcHH