The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-20
and heroic action by outside influence
alone ca save the conference
THE INDEMNITY QUESTION.
A Russian Delegate Points Out Why
His Country Will Refuse to Pay
Cost of War.


Portsmouth, n. H., Aug. 18-Mr
De Martens, one of the Russian dele
gates and recognized everywhere as
one of the great authorities on inter-
national law, in speaking about the
principle of war indemnity, said that
there is no precedent in history where
a country whose territory was not oc-
cupied in whole or in part by the enc
my had paid war tribute upon the con-
clusion Of peace.
Russia" Mr.. De Martens said, twas
not crushed. She is not on her knees
begging for peace. She wants peace
but she will go on fighting for years.
Japan has not even approached the
true Russian frontier.
SHOULD I;ussia's consent to pay tri-
butte to Japan in any form, it would be
her political death. The powers would
understand that she accepted the
proposition of President Roosevelt, not
because she was DESTROYS Of an hon.
orable peace, but because her power
had been annihilated and she recognize
ed that it was impossible for her to
continue the war. 1t would mean
public confession that Russia is at
Portsmouth helplessly kneeling before
Japan, imploring peace and ready to
accept any terms imposed. No one
VIII seriously COnUenu tHat the M U.s.
covite is in any such position
With many interesting historical ex-
amples Mr. De Martens proceeded to
show that no country has ever paid
indemnitye except when powerleSs to
confront the enemy on the field of bat
tie and a large portion of her territory
was in the enemy's possession as a
hostage.
Historical prcce0cntS.
In 1907, he pointed out, when Ma
poleon imposed the peace Of Tilsit
French troops occupied practically all
of Prussia, and the Prussian royal
family had fled to Russian soil.
France could dictate terms. She ex-
acted a war indemnity of $500, 100000
and garrisoned several Prussian towns
with French troops at the expense OF
Prussia as guarantee of payment.
She required that the Prussian army
should be reduced to 10000 men.
In 1915, when Napoleon was ami
hilated at Waterloo after the famous
100 days. and the second treaty of
Paris was concluded, the allied powers
occupying Paris, as the Prussians did
later in 1870. imposed in addition to
other conditions a war indemnity of
500, OOO,O0O to be paid in five years.
during which time the allied troops
ritory. That sum, however, was con
siderably reduced by Wellington at
AK la Chapelle and France completed
the payment Of the indemnity in three
years.
The largest war indemnity ever ex-
acted was imposed by Prince Bis
marck upon France in 1870. 1t
amounted to 81, 600, 100000. But Ma
poleon III had fallen. Gambetta was
powerless, Prussia was at Paris. The
third republic succeeded in licuidating
the indemnity in two years. while ac-
cOrding to the treaty she had five years
time i'm which to pay.
In other cases, even where a por-
ton of the territory of the fated coun-
try was occupied, no indemnity was
exacted or even asked. For instance.
Peninsula was occupied by he Anglo
Franco Piedmontese troops was not
asked to pay tribute.
Neither Austria in 1859, after haV-
ing been defeated by the Franco-Pied-
montese, and having lost Lombardy,
nor i'm 1866, after having been beaten
by Prussia, paid an indemnity.
Denmark in 1864 lost Schleswig
Holstein to Prussia. but paid nothing.
America Set New Precedent.
"a new precedent was made by
America" added Mr.. De Martens. ''in
her war with Spain. Although victor
lous and i'm a position to claim indem-
nifty she ended the war on principle
and actually paid $20,0O0,O0O to the
Madrid government for the Philippine
Islands. But that was as the French
say, to 'dorer la pillule' (to gild the
hill.)"
Independent of all these considera-
tons, Mr.. De Martens said Russia's OBJ
lection to paying an indemnity, under
no matter what form, comes from the
fact that in all her history she never
paid a cent of tribute to a foreign pow
er, not even under Peter the Great,
when large portion of the country
was in the hands of the invaders. In
conclusion he called attention to the
fact that to pay an indemnity to ia
pan would be for Russia to create
precedent new in the worlds history.