The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-30
Isl Peace In Sight?

10 Peace In sight?
According TO a report from st. Peters.
burg, which seems to be credited al
Washington, the Cars Government
is now disposed to enter upon negotiR-
tions for peace It Is improbable that
any intimation Of the kind would have
been given by the Russian Foreign
Office unless it had received some def
mite information concerning Japan's de-
mands, What are those demands likely
to be9
II Is evident that concessions which
Japan might accept to-day would seem
to her inadequate il she were forced to
prosecute the war for another twelve
month The waste Of life and money
for which she would expect compensation
would have been notably increased, and
II is probable that her military and naval
supremacy would have been demon
strated even more conclusively. At pres
ent Russia possesses q feet in being
under Admiral RoJEsTvENsKY which,
on paper at least, is formidable, and
she n.y. with truth aver that as yet,
the Liaotung peninsula, Japan has not
occupied a square inch Of territory Of
which Russia, before the war, claimed to
be the rightful possessor. A large por-
| ton Of the army beaten at Mukden has
been recognized under Gen LIME
WITCH and is nearing the Sungari River,
whence, unless its northward progress
should be INSTRUCTED, it can fall back
upon Hardin and, il pressed retreat
still further toward Lake Baikal.
There is reason TO believe that next
year the situation would be changed
for the worse. RoJEsTvENsKY's feet
will either have been destroyed or dis
persed, or through its persistent avoid
ance OF danger will have become a
laughing stock. We shall doubtless hear
that the island OF Saghaiien, in which
only a very weak Russian garrison is
stationed. has been occupied by the
japanese as soon IA the adjoining waters
are free from ice. Vladivostok will
presently be invested by sea and land,
and although the resistance may be
sturdy and prolonged this stronghold
must ultimately share Port Arthur's fate.
With the capture Of Vladivostok the
japanese will acquire the whole Of the
riparian province lying east Of the
Ussuri River and south Of the Amur,
which China ceded TO Russia many years
ago. BY such territorial conquests Japan
would secure the conventional basis
for the eXaction Of pecuniary indem-
nifty which she at present lacks, unless,
indeed, she should consent TO surrender
the Liaotung peninsula, which may be
deemed out Of the question, We recall
no instance in the history OF warfare in
which money has been paid by van
pushed nation except in consideration
OF a restitution Of territory The pres
ent case, indeed, from some points OF
view, is exceptional, because Japan Is
an exceedingly poor country, and, more e.
over, can justly assert that she was
driven 10 war by Russias encroachment
upon Corea and refusal to evacuate
Manohuria. 1t 10 certain, however, that
she would be satisfied with a much
smaller sum to-day than she would claim
after being compelled 70 bear tho cost
Of the war for another year.
We may take for granted that as the
price Of peace Russia would cede the
island Of Saghalien to japan and would
agree TO evacuate the whole OF Man
churia, although her negotiators would
try TO retain at least the right TO use
that branch Of the Siberian railroad
which runs through the northern Man
churian province 20 VladivOstok That
naval fortress could be reached, how
ever, IL the original plan Of the Russian
engineers we're carried out and the ST.
berian railway were continued along
the northern bank Of the Amur 20 its
junction with the Ussuri, after which
the line would traverse the riparian
province. The MikRdo's advisers may
fairly argue that il Russia is permit
ted TO keep control Of any Manchu-
!. rian railway she is likely TO revert at
some future time TO her project OF
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at China's expense. As
for Russias acknowledgement Of Japan's
protectorate over Corea, that would be
only formal recognition Of an accom-
plished fact. II has been reported that
one Of the conditions on which Japan
would insist is a covenant on Russia 8
part not to build any warships for term
Of years II il obvious that such cove
nant could easily be evaded. The de-
sired number Of warships could be con-
structed for the account OF other Powers
and suddenly transferred 70 Russia
when the Oars Government should