The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-11
81 su1tsa %[sam,"s1S~ 1"oH4xos &C. A. GOODWIN
RUSS ANDjAP
DISCUSS
The TERMS

Portsmouth, n. H.. Aug ii.-Mr. Alex
ander Briantchaninoff. correspondent OF
the St Petersburg slovo writing on the
peace situation today says:
president Roosevelt In his toast 10 the
plenipotentiaries put as the object OF the
negotiations the conclusion OF a Just and
lasting peace II Is 10 be regretted that
a personality so Independent in his opin-
ions, and so universally esteemed as
President Roosevelt cannot for reasons
easily understood, explicitly state what he
means by Just and lasting peace, but
has 10 leave IL 10 the two belligerents
themselves 10 arrive at an understanding
on the subject.
But. an undertaking is not easy The
ideas OF a Just peace differs widely IN
the two countries. An excited state or
public feeling exists in Japan. They are
eated with the successes which they
themselves did not expect. while in Rus
sia the people are wounded by unexpect-
ed reverses. Leaving 10 the japanese the
care OF speaking from their point OF view
l. in my capacity as Russian, can oyly
give the reasons why we oppose certain
japanese pretensions. although we at the
same time recognize the rights they ac-
quire through the success OF their arms
from theviewpoint Of those who are not
victorious. Otherwise they would be for
ever animated by the feeling Of resent
ment and a desire for revenge. II is false
reasoning 10 base a demand for an in
demnity upon the statement that we
forced Japan into this war. and that
therefore we must reimburse hen. for the
expenses she sustained.
According TO our view Japan declared
tfQ N Mnnphnriq
solemnly proclaiming that she did not
wish territorial expansion, but that her
purpose was 10 defend this political
equilibrium OF the far east threatened by
our presence in Manchuria We under
stand that after 1895 war became in
evitable from a japanese point Of view,
and Japan prepared herself for it, as
shown by her victories.
"The leaders OF our government Gid not
| understand IL in time and Russia has now
undergone the sad consequence; but about
one fact there may be no discussion,
| namely. that Japan, considering this the
opportune moment hurried 10 attack us
| without declaration OF war. without even
warning us through an ultimatum.
For these reasons we consider the
| payment Of an indemnity unjust in prin-
cipe Besides, we could not contem-
| plate the IDEA OF peace without a feel.
| ing OF revenge should we be deprived Of
| the Island OF Sakhalin. whence our pos
| session Of the Amur would be threatened.
| Therefore the cession Of that island would
| be a source of continuous resentment be-
tween the two people, which instead
| should be united by a cordial and solid
| understanding. We should have peace
not a truce According 10 my view. a
solution might be found by Russia buying
| back the sovereignty OF the Island from
| the Japanese
THE exact cession OF territory and The
| payment OF an indemnity besides all of
| the other conditions which are contained
| in the japanese demands is impossible for
| Russia, which possesses an immense army
beaten but not defeated"
DEvOI DoF RED TAPE.
Writing TO his paper, The Jill Shimpo
| at Tokio,-Rihei Onishi expresses atisfac-
| ton with the progress Of the peace nego-
tiations ana particularly with the man
ner in which the Japanese are conducting
| the affairs of his contry. He says their
method Of doing business is lirect ami
devoid of red tape and so far as they are
! concerned n treaty of peace might be
! signed today.
He comments on the necessity Of the
Russian plenipotentiaries sending the
Japanese terms 10 the Car If Russia
! cannot accept the terms, he announces
that this country is all right, we will &c
J on fghting."
However, he sees no reason for haste in
| the negotiations. The position OF Japan
| he saws is much better today than at the
! beginning OF the war there Is no Rus
! sian navy now, there is no Port Arthur
/ no Lao Yang. no Mukden and our army
! IS in possession OF Sakhalin and threaten
] ing the communication OF Nladivostok."
lie expresses belief that the whole civ
! ilized world will agree that the peace
| terms Of Japan are reasonable conse-
| quently II the conference fails II will bc
| due To Russia. Should IL end without
! peace. ne sees no hope in the future for
| anything except a fight 90 the bitter end
! There is he says. no other nation which
! could, with the Observance OF the proper
| proprieties suggest other negotiations for
| raaCa