The San Francisco call., 1905-08-24
RUssIA's POSITION EXPLAINED.
Statement Authorized by the PIeni-
pOtentiaries of the Czar.

PORTSMOUTH. y. H, Aug 2S.-The
following authoritative statement ex-
plains the Russian position with regard
TO the latest stage of the negotiations:
Statements have appeared in promi-
nent American and English papers,
which, while eloquent, studiously mode
rate and well intentioned, are unhap-
PLY calculated to mislead the world as
70 the prospects Of peace and the gen.
eral character Of Japan's so-called new
proposal. with which. il is contended,
Russia can close without loss of dig
nifty. The regrettable mistake into
which the representatives of these jour
mails have undoubtedly fallen is obVi-
ously the result of misleading data
leavened with real but secondary facts.
Thus, it is quite true, as those papers
predicted, that the ENJOYS of Japan
came forward at to-day's sitting with a
proposal which was new in form. but
old in substance 1t is equally true
that that proposal lacks the two con-
tentious clauses stipulating that Rus
sia shall surrender TO Japan her dis
armed ships and limit her naval
strength on the Pacific, and that it re-
duces the differences between the two
powers to the compass of what is in
appearance, single question, the sale
of Saghalien. Seemingly, therefore,
Japan has also struck her pen through
the most obnoxious clause of all-that
which deals with indemnity-and all
that she now asks Russia to do, in ad
dition TO the terms already agreed
upon, is TO purchase the northern half
of Saghalien for the sum of one mil
lard two hundred million ven G20O,-
600, 0,0o0) and this alleged simplification
of terms is supposed TO provide Russia
with ar acceptable basis for a peace
treaty.
SIMPLY A CHANGE OF WORDING.
AT first sight the offer may perhaps
seem new 10 some, but a closer exam
ination will show it to be in all es-
sentials identical with the proposal al
ready rejected by Russia's representa-
tfves. Only a person unfamiliar with
war, in love with humanitarfanisrn,
foreign 10 Russia and incompetent to
judge of Russia's national honor and
dignity, would decry in those terms the
source of a new impulse given TO the
peace negotiations
But a grieyeus. mistake was COM
naitted by those who imagined that the
plenipotentiaries of the Car, the rep
resentatives of the Russian nation,
would take the husk for the kernel the
shade for the substance. A person OF
average intelligence can see that what
is new IN this proposal is only the
phraseology IN which IL is couched.
The elimination OF the two clauses
stipulating that Russias djsarmed war
ships be handed over to Japan and her
naval strength on the Pacific be re-
stricted brings no new element into
the transaction, for the withdrawal of
these claims, which were obviously put
forward with the intention of being
waived in the course Of the negotia-
ons. is devoid Of Importance. The dis
aimed ships in question are Russia S
~ right and to ask that they be hand
ed over 20 Japan is TO demand a breach
Of the law of nations.
Again. the Limitation of Russia's
naval effectiveness on the Pacific is
meaningless. because she will be unable
for quarter, or. ii may be. a half-cen-
tury, TO dispose of warships enough. to
keep a squadron there equal to Japan's
while IL would be fruitless TO maintain
smaller one Consequently. to speak