The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1905-08-02
A BILLION DOLLARS.
This Probably Amount Of Indemnity Japan
VIII Want.


Washington, d. c. (Special) .-Wheth-
or there is to be peace in the Far East
or a continuance of the war will be
practically decided at the first business
meeting of the Washington conference
which will convene at the navy yard,
Portsmouth, N. H., about August s. Ba-
ron komura will on that occasion COM
municate to NJ Wittc the essentials of
Japan's peace terms for further negotia
tions. This, it is declared, will not be
done in a spirit of defiance; indeed,
there are many evidences in the posses
sion of the neutral governments that
Japan is coming to the Washington con-
ference not imbued with a desire to hu
initiate Russia, but only to exact terms
which will insure lasting peace in
the Far East and which will in a meas
urGs compensate Japan for the financial
losses in the present conflict.
Japan has not kept from several friend
ly governments the general character of
her terms. Official Washington has been
enabled to form within certain limits
clear idea OF their character.
1t is known that Japan will demand
an indemnity that will approximately
cover the cost Of the war to date. This
was communicated to Russia carly in
the preliminary negotiations. The amount
is still a secret, but is based upon the
most careful estimates of the cost OF the
war and will be accompanied by more
or less detailed statement showing the
method by which the final figures arc
computed. 1t will not fall far short of
ST, ,ooo, 100000, according to advices reach
ing here from well-informed sources.
Besides the indemnity, it is believed
Japan's other essentials to the continu-
ance of the negotiations are the cession
to Japan OF Sakhain, of the Liaotung
peninsula and of the railway as far as
Harbin, the recognition of Japan's pre-
dominating influence in Korea and the
return of Manchuria to China.
If the Russian plenipotentaries arc
prepared to accept these essentials the
officials here are confident that the basis
will be laid for negotiations which are
sure to lead to the signing of the treaty
Of Washington, bringing peace in the
Far East.
AS for the subjects remaining TO be
discussed, a tedious one, ii is believed,
and one on which Russia will be dis
posed to negotiate with the greatest cau-
ton is the program for the restoration
of Manchuria to Chinese control Be
cause of the confusion and general dis
order likely to ensue in the province
after the withdrawal of the foreign ar
mics Japan believes that certain time
will be required in which to restore pub
lie order and the establishment of a
regular system OF Chinese police admin
istration. During this period Japan will
insist that she remain in control of the
administration of the province. at the
same time giving a definite pledge f.
nally to evacuate as soon as China shall
be in a position to take up the reins of
government there and maintain order.
A second subject for the plenipoten-
tiaries TO settle will be the surrender
of all the Russian ships now interned in
neutral ports. Some of these are in
clined to believe that this demand will
claim ground for believing that Russia
may induce Japan to take these in part
payment of the indemnity.
Europe believes Japan will demand the
naturalization of Vladivostok. The
Washington Government does not share
in this belief. Indeed. in official circles
here the statement is made without hesi-
tation that such demand would not be
moderate or reasonable" and it is
known that Russia will not permit the
subject of Vladivostok TO come before
the conference
Little progress has been made in the
direction of an armistice. London has
not seen its way clear to aid the Presi-
dent in his efforts to this end, and Japan
has in the most determined manner indi-
Gated its unwilingness to consent to an
armistice until her plenipotentiaries have
met the Russians in the conference. The
object OF this, it is now explained in an
authoritative quarter, is because Japan
wishes to be assured that Russia is pre-
pared to negotiate in seriousness for
peace before the Japanese commanders
yield any of their ground