The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-12

on which they would bring the war with
China to an end, and there Ia no reason
to believe that they would have relaxed
them but for the attempt to assassinate
the Chinese plenipotentiary, Ii HUNG
CHANG, and their chivafroiis desire to
atone for the outrage So, too, in the
negotiations which preceded the out
break Of hostilities in February, 1904, the
Mikado's advisers warned the st. Peters
burg Government that the arran gements
proposed by them with regard to Man
chur1a and Corea constituted the ire
ducible minimum OF what Japan's vital
interests and honor would compel her
to require.
The first noteworthy feature Of .Japan's
terms II they are correctly reported.
10 the scrupulbus avoidance OF the word
indemnity" The Mikado's representa-
tives say that their country should be
reimbursed for the cost OF the war, but
they do not assume to designate the
cost, leaving the amount Of compensa-
ton to be determined later by the parties
to the conference, after the Japanese
expenditure shall have been exactly
calculated We know that up to the
close OF the last fiscal year Japan's
outlay for war purposes fell a little
short OF Se7e, 900, to which would
have to be added the expense since in
CURED and the cost Of returning the
soldiers in Manchuria to their homes.
This is a moderate and reasonable
demand, compared with Germany's ex-
action Of billion dollars for the cost Of
much shorter war. From the fact, more
over, that the precise sum to be paid
by way of compensation is reserved for
future discussion and agreement, it may
be inferred that Japan desires an OPP
portunity of making voluntary conces-
sions and displaying generosity. The
Court Of Toxic showed at Shimonoseki
how capable it is Of magnanimity.
The demand for the ceesion Of the
whole island OF Sakhalin was expected.
That island in it's entirety formerly be-
longed to Japan, and although, under
pressure which it was then unable to re-.
sist, the Toxic Government first relin-
pushed the northern half and ultimately
coded the southern half also to Russia,
it has never ceased to regard the recov-
cry OF sakhalin as geographically and
strategically essential to the integrity
and safety Of the island empire. We
may be certain that upon this condition
Japan will insist. The exaction Of the
evacuation of Manohuria by Russia and
of her recognition Of Japan's protector
ate over Corea might have been taken
for granted. The transfer of Russia's
lease Of the tip of the Laotung penin-
sula, comprising Port Arthur and Dalny,
was likewise matter of course. So.
also, is the cession to Japan Of tho Chi
nese Eastern Railway, running SOUTH
ward from Hardin to Port Arthur: What
is surprising is Japan's willingness to
permit Russia to retain the railway run
ming from the Siberian frontier across
northern Manchuria, through Hardin,
to vladivostok. The Toxic Government
too, from requiring the sur
render Of that naval fortress, or even its
That Japan, reacduiring
Sakhalin, should desire q grant of fish
ing rights in the waters of the Siberian
littoral northward from Vladivostok
is natural enough. The demand for
the REIMBURSEMENT to Japan OF the Rus
sian warships interned in neutral ports
was also expected, and so was the claim,
based on the desire to avert another con-
test at NO distant date, that Russia's
naval strength in Far Eastern waters
should be limited.
1t will, in fine, be noticed that Japan
SKIS for not square inch of soil to which
Russia has any just title, for well in
formed and high minded Russians must
themselves be ashamed of the crcum-
stances under which they gained the
island Of Sakhalin. By allowing Russia to
retain the railway from Hardin to Vladi-
vostok the Japanese practically permit
her to keep foothold in northern Man
churia. By abstaining from naming
any definite sum by way of reimburse
ment for her outlay, Japan leaves the door
wide open to compromise and conces-
sion. To disinterested onlookers these
.erms will seem, as we have said, by no
means harsh, but, on the whole, reason
able and moderate.