The news & observer., 1905-08-22
THE WAY TO PEACE-ANIISTO
CAL PRErEX.

1tuSSla and Japan are some mOl-ey ana
some land. Japan wants big indem-
nifty and some land; Russia wishes to
give up neither And that is the rock
upon which they were about to split on
Friday when President Roosevelt, act
ing for this country England, France
and Germany. took a hand in the ne
gotiations Since then there has been
hope that the powers would be aple
to compel some sort of agreement be-
tween Russia and Japan, or, at least,
to agree to let their differences be ar
bitrated. Considerations of humanity
and commerce demand that the war
cease.
In the event that the powers and
the peace commissioners cannot reach
a conclusion, a subscriber to this pa
per makes a suggestion that may well
be considered. He writes:
Throw In the Philippines in Order to
Make Peace.
To the Editor: While President
Roosevelt is eXerting his great m
iiuence to bring about peace between
Japan and Russia wouldn't it be a
good idea Tor him, while their backs
are turned, to slip the Philippines of
on tlltHl. mat 10 vi Nv hp 'iiN P~''NS
article in such a manner as to give the
Philippines to Russia, and then let
Russia give them to Japan.
JAMES DEMPSEY BULLOCK.
The suggestion of our friend is not
only astute. but is also in a sense
historical. 1t fills the bill opens
way for both sides to get out with
honor-and would cause an emotion
of relief from the Atlantic to the Pa
ciic in the United States. Japan
would have her land, Russia would
come out of a tight hole, the United
States would be happy. Since Japan
needs land so badly she would be
happy also and nobody would be
hurt. And the method by which these
entrancing and humane results might
be brought to pass is, while com
plicated, by no means so impossible
a labor as it would appear at first
blush to be. Hence, the historical
incident, occurring during and i'm
mediateiy after the civil war ana in
volving Russia herself in a highly
gratifying web of Yankee diplomacy.
AS is we'll known, there was gen
eraI inclination among the great
powers following up the first sue
cesses of the COnfederaCy to recog-
nize the new nation. The sympathies
of the world were with the seeding
States. How to keep that sympathy
from becoming manifest was the
problem of the statesmen of the Union.
Seward solved the problem. To the
wonder of the world, while state
of war existed to the death, the great
Russian fleet sailed half way around
the seas. anchored in New York hdr-
Dor and her officers were dined and
feted by the authorities at Washing
ton and other important cities of the
United States in a way that indicated
a perfect understanding. 's conse-
quence other European powers, fear
full of war among themselves. refrain
ed from recognizing the Confederd2y
as nation.
That is all history but behind it.
and not written in the records, is
another story of tradition which IS
been restored Russia desired her pay
for services performed. Her ENJOYS
came to America to collect the eN-
penses of the trip of the fleet and the
bonus which had been agreed upon.
The cabinet recognized the obligation,
but there was a difficulty in the method
of making payment. How to put into
the budget 80 many million dollars
for Russia S help i'm the war against
the COnfederacy" was question that
caused great scratching of diplo-
matte heads. 1t was one of those in
stances where both parties desired
to trade, but where the details would
be humiIiating to both if they became
known to the world. Russia would
have at once lost her high pose of d
friendly and protecting nation; the
United States would seem to have
been bargaining for the victory which
it was desired to be thought had been
won without outside interference. In
the middle of the tangle, the difficult
knot was severed by a question which
in the annals of national negotiation
Said Simon Cameron to the Russian
envOys:
"Do you give damn for Alaska
The Russians were startled: "Ot
course not" they replied Indignantly.
Neither do we" said Cameron, but
We'll buy it from you"
The Russians figured up their bill,
the price was agreed to, stately
treaty was drawn up and Alaska was
sold
Now, while it is true that the same
reasons for the purchase of the
Philippines did not apply with the
commissioners after the Spanish war.
the islands are ours at an original
price of twenty millions with expenses
of a hundred or so millions year to
hold on to them. Like a man who
has sat on pin, we have got what we
didn't expect, don't want. and would