Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-18
QUESTION OF INDEMNITY.

OUESIlON OI ANO6unNAA
Mr.. de Martens, one of the Russian
delegates aud recognized as one OF the
great authorities on international law,
not only in Russia, but throughout the
world, in speaking in Portsmouth, n. b.,
Yesterday about the principle CT the war
indemnify, said that there was no pre-
cedent in history where a country whose
territory was not occupied in whole or in
part by the enemy had paid war tribute
upon the conclusion of peace. Russia,
Mr.. de Martens said, was not crushed
She was not on her knees begging ior
peace. She wanted peace, but she could
20 Oh fighting for years. Japan had not
even approached the true Russian from
tier.
"Should Russia consent to pay tribute
TO Japan in any form" continued the
eminent jurist, cit would be her politl-
cal death. The powers would under
stand that she accepted the proposition
of President Roosevelt, not because she
was dosirous of an honorable peace, but
because her power had been annihilaled
and she recognized thatit was impossible
for her to continne the war. 1t would
mean public conf sson that Russia IS
at Portsmouth helplessly kneeling before
Japan, imploriug peace, and ready to
accept any terms imposed. No one will
seriously contend that the MuscOylte en-
pire is in any such position"
With many interesting historical ex-
smples NJ. de Martens proceeded to
elaborate his thesis that no country had
ever paid indemnity except when power
less to confront the enemy on the field
of battle, and with large portion Of her
territory in the enemy's possession as
hostage.
In 1907, he pointed out, when Ma
poleon imposed the peace of Tilsit,
French troops occupied practically all OF
Prussia, and the Prussian royal family
had fed to Russian soil. France could
dictate terms. She exacted war in
demnity of $9, 900, 600, and garrisoned
several Prussian towns with French
troops at the expense of Prussia as
guarantee of payment. She required
that the Prussian army should be re-
duced to 40, 600 men.
In 1915, when Napoleon was annl-
hlated at WterlOO, after the famous
900 days" and the second treaty Of
Paris was concluded, the allied powers
occupying Paris, as the Prussians did
later, in 1870, imposed, in addition
to other conditions, war indemnity
of $500, 600, 900, to be paid in five
wears, during which time the allied
troops were to hold a portion Of French
territory. That sum, however, was con-
sderaby reduced by Wellington at AK
la-Chapelle, and France completed the
payment of the indemntyin three years.
The largest war indemnity ever exacted
was imI o ell by Prince Bismarck, upon
France, in 1870 tamOunted to 81 100
600, 600. But Napoleon Ill had fallen.
Gambetta was powerful. Prussia was at
Paris. The third republic succeeded in
Iiquidating the indemnity in two years,
while, according TO the treaty, she had
five years time in which to pay.
In other cases, even where a portion
of the territory of the fated country was
occupied, no indemnity was exacted or
even asked; for instance, Russia in 1856,
although the Crimean peninsula was oc-
cupied by the Franco PiedmOntese troops,
was not asked to pay tribute. Neither
did Austria in 1859, after having been
defeated by the Franco-Piedmontese and
having lost Lombardy, or in 1866, after
having been beaten by Prussia, pay an
idemnity. Denmark in 1864 lost Schles-
wig Holsleiu TO Prussia, but paid notk-
ing.
"a new precedent was made by Amer
ica," added NJ. de Martens, Gin her wal
with Spain. Although victorious and
in position TO claim indemnity, she
ended the war on principle aud actually
paid $40, 900, 900 20 the Madrid govern
nent for the Philippine Islands.
"But that" he remarked, "was, as
the French say, to 'dorer la pilule. "
lndepeade II of all these considera-
tions. NJ. de Martens said, Russia's OBJ
lection to the payment of an indemnity,
under no matter what form, comes from
the fact that in all her history she never
paid cent of tribute to a foreign power,
not even during the time of her worst
defeats under Peter the Great, when a
large portion of the country was in the
hands of the invaders. In conclusion
he called attention to the fact that to
pay an indemnity to japan would be for
/ Dus.;s 10 creata O nrpcpdent new In the