Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-31
LONDON PRESS COMMENTS.

the CnllleSe were
LONDON PRESS COMMENTS.
President and combatants cornnended
for Conclusion Of Peace Negotiations.
London. Aug. 3O-12.43 p. Mine
news Of the conclusion of peace at
Portsmouth, n. H., Tuesday, reacneu
London SO late, Tuesday evening. thal
| with the exception of official and dip
lomatic circles and those who We're III
the city at a late hour the announce
| :nents in the morning papers came
IS n complete surprise. Even many
cabinet officers and other high officials
were ignorant of the momentous event,
until Wednesday, as those who COM
pose the official and social circles In
England are now gathered around the
| moors. some of them out Of reach of
| telegraph, for grouse shooting. With
the general public the news was re-
ceived with the greatest satisfaction
and admiration for Japan's sacrifices
in the cause of peace"
Ths evening papers follow the lead
Of the morning papers in bestowing
| unstinted praise on President Rooso-
welt. to whom they give the fullest
credit for the outcome of the confer
ence whose decision was entirely at
i variance with their daily predictions
since the opening of the negotiations.
Both papers and people We're so
tastounded at the outcome of the con-
| ference that they feel that there is
something In the agreement arrived
at which has not yet been published
and that If this is not the case then
the new Anglo Japanese treaty has
affected the result in some way. In
this connection the Pail Mall Gazette
says:
The enlarged treaty with England
| may have had considerable weight in
| persuading the Mfkado and his advis-
| ers that Japan's position IN the Far
| East is now practically impregnabl
| and that peace may be made without
pressing for the payment OF costs"
The paper adds:
Japan now stands in a position of
| lmpre enable supremacy in the Far
East and this supremacy could only be
| disputed by a condition against which
her alliance with the greatest naval
| power in the world constitutes an abb
| sclute guarantee"
Arguing that Japan might after con-
| sideration. feel more satisfied with hav-
| ing gained the points for which she
| took up arms, the Pail Mall Gazette
| continues:
Honceforth Asia lies at her feet and
| particularly China. China has been a
| bone of contention all along. England
and the United States will have every
reason to be thankful for the triumphs
| of Japan"
| Referring to Japan's decision to give
Up her demand for an indemnity the
| Westminster Gazette says:
| ut needed only moments reflection
to see how greatly her moral position
must have been weakened after fav-
| ing obtained all the substantial points
| for which she undertook the war and
all the enormous assets that go with
them, sne had taken the responsibility
for renewing the war on the question
| of costs which could not in the long
| run have been recovered against an
| opponent who was determined not to
| pay. The policy of Japan is to concen-
| trate herself upon the formidable task
of developing what her victory has Civ
| ell her and even q successful war which
| would have left her in possession Of
| further territory must have dissipated
| her energies and weakened her posi-
| ton
| The Westminster Gazette concludes
| with reference to the Anglo-Japanese
| treaty, saying 1.-The alliance is to be re-
| newed and extended to Il wider scope
| than 1t has yet had" and expressing
| the hope that the extended alliance
| may be ono which in the long run may
| be compatible with more friendly re-
| lations between Great Britain and Rus
| sia.
Speaking of Japan's waiver of the in
| demnity clause the Globe says:
| 1T has been an act nf extraordinary
| courage and rnagnanimlty on the part
of the Emperor and his council. In the
! act, which seems 20 be justified by the
results. the Emperor Of japan has given
the world a lesson in moderation. and
as We believe the results will show, In
practical wisdom
| Tho Globe also clailps that Japan
gained what she went % war for and
| says:
| ITO the ancient, chivGl.ous feeling Of
| the old Samuran there must have APP
| ncared something sordid in continuing
| tho conflict not for glory or for the
safety of the empire but for IL cash pay
| iacnt which had assumed the form of a
| liqulda ton for damages. Moreover We
| write In thu dark. We have no glimmer
| # the secret conditions which III all
probability form n part of the terms of
peace. Nor do We know how far the
situation vas affected ly the Anglo
Japanese treaty"
Tho Evening STANDARD says:
Russia has won IN. Of the greatest
diplomatic victories in the history OF
the world.