Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-18
WHY RUSSIA WON'T PAY.
Delegate Martens Says There is No
Precedent for Jap Demand.


Precedent for Jap Demand.
Portsmouth, N H.. Aug. 1S.-Mr. de
Martens, one of the Russian delegates,
and recognized as one of the great
authorities on international law not
only in Russia but turnout the world,
in speaking about the principle of the
war indemnity, said that there was no
precedent I'M history where 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 for peace. She wanted peace,
but she could go on fighting for years.
Japan had not even approached the
true Russian frontier.
SHOULD Russia consent to pay trlb-
ute to Japan in any FORM" continued
the eminent jurist, lit would be hsf
political DEATH The powers would
understand that she accepted the prop
osition of President Roosevelt not be-
cause she was DESTROYS of an honor
able peace but because her power haEl
been annihilated and she recognized
that it was impossible for her to con-
tinue the war. 1t would mean public
confession that Russia is at PORTS
mouth helplessly kneeling before Japan
imploring peace and ready TO accept
amy terms imposed. No one Will ser
iously contend that the Muscovite en-
oire is in any such position
Historical Precedents.
With many interesting historical ex-
ampes Mr.. de Martens proceeded to
elaborate his thesis that no country
ever had paid indemnity except wheh
nowerless to confront the enemy on
the field of battle and with a large
portion of her territory in the enemy $
possession as a hostage.
Tn 1907. he pointed out, when Ma
noleon imposed the peace of Tilstt.
French troops occupied practically all
of Prussia. and the Prussian royal
family had fled to Russian soil. France
could dictate terms. she exac.eo
war indemnity of s300,000,000 and gar
r;soned several Prussian towns Win
French troops at the expense of Prus-
STA as a guarantee OF payment one
required that the Prusslan army
should be reduced to 10000 men.
In 1915. when Napoleon was annnlt-
ated at Waterloo. after the famous
100 days" and the second treaty Oh
Paris was concluded. the allied pow
ers occupying Paris as the Prussians
did later in 1870, imposed in addltloh
to other conditions a war Indemnify Oh
$500, 100000 to be paid In fve years.
during which time the allied troops
were to hold portion of French Ter
ritory. That sum. however was con-
siderably reduced by Lord Wellington
at AK la Chapelle, and France com
pleted the payment of the indemnity IN
three years.
The largest war indemnity ever
exacted was imposed by Prince Bis
marck upon France in 1870. 1t amounts
ed to 81 900, 100000. But Napoleon III.
had fallen Gambetta was powerless
prussia was at Paris. The third re-
nnh,ic succeeded in liquidating the In
demnity in two years. while, according
to the treaty, she had five years time
in which to pay.
No Indemnity Paid.
Tn other cases, even where a portion
Of the territory of the fated country
was occupied, no indemnity was eX-
acted. or even asked. For instance,
Russia. in 1856, although the Crimean
peninsula was occupied by the Anglo
Franco-P troops, was not
asked to pay tribute. Neither was
Austria in 1859, after having lost Lom-
hardy, nor in 1866, after being beaten
by Prussia Denmark in 1854. lost
Schleswig -Holstein to Prussia, but
paid nothing.
"A new precedent was made by
America added Mr.. De Martens, "in
her war with Spain. Although victor
ious and in a position to claim indem
nifty, she ended the war on principle,
and actually paid s20000,000 to the
Madrid government for the Philippine
islands.
But that he remarked, was as
the French say, to dorer la pillule.'
Independent of all these considera-
tons. Mr.. De Martens said, Russia's
objection to the payment of an in
demnity, under no matter what form,
comes from the fact that in all her
history she never paid a cent of tri-
butte to foreign power not even dur
ing the time of her worst defeats un-
der Peter the Great, when large por-
ton of her country was in the hands
| of the invader. In conclusion, he
called attention to the fact that to
pay an indemnity to Japan would be
for Russia to create precedent in the
| worlds history.