Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-31
SATISFACTION AND REJOICING
Greets the News Of Final Peace Be.
tween Russia and Japan.

IlcSSdSe lIOHi LoIiuOIl W Tie oui say
Except in official circles at st. Peters,
burg and Berlin the news that peace
has been made will be received
throughout Europe with unbounded
| satisfaction and rejoicing. Hope of
this result had been practically aban-
donei since 1t was known there was no
chance of Russia yielding to Japan's
| principal demands.
The idea that Japan would again
abandon the fruits Of victory after re-
reatedly declaring the opposite inten-
| tion was hardly considered among the
possibilities of the situation until two
days ago.
| Then 1t was whispered in certain
diplomatic circles that secret agree
ment existed between Japan and
China by the terms of which the lat
ter agreed to pay the ex nses of the
war for the restoration Manchuria
! in case Japan failed to compel Rus
sia to pay an indemnity. There Is no
adequate authority for this rumor. but
it is received with d certain amount
of credence, especially since the news
has come of Japan's amazing sacri-
flee of her principal claim.
| II is pointed out that srsh compensation
by China to the country which conquered
and restored to her this great province
would be only just and equita BILE. l.
| would be unreasonable to expect Japan
TO perform this great service as an act
of magnanimity, and that she is entitled d
10 receive the full expenses of her cam
paign minus only the velue of Port Ar
thur. which will remain in Japanese
hands.
If such an arrangement exists it cannot
have been known In st. Petersburg. for
tonights dispatches from thero indicate
that no one was so much surprised at
the Japanese withdrawal as the Rus
SLAMS themselves. 1t was true that before
| the outbreak of hostiities the Russia n
government did not expect and did not
desire war. 1t has been true throughout
these negotiations that the Russian gov
eminent did not expect and did not desire
peace
The latter fact was fully understood by
Japan. at least during the past few days
| and diplomatic opinion here inclines to
the bolief that this was one of the strong
motives which induced Toxic to close
with her adversary on the terms to which
she has assented. in full confidence that
they would not be accepted
No one In the diplomatic world as
scribes the Japanese decision to cunsld-
Grafton of magnanimity or hurnanita-
rianism- They do. in most cases. credit
her with wise statemanship. Russla's
claim that she was able to carry on a
defensive campaign until Japan was
completely exhausted is not regarded as
a mere bluff by the most impa rtial Eu-
ropean authorities. Some go 30 far as
TO say that Japan in the future would
never have been able to get terms SO
favorable as She obtained today. Ahis
idea is coupled with the suggestion that
Russia may interpret Japens withdra wal
as confession of weakness which might
create danger OF future Russian aggres-
sion.
1t is recalled that Japan's original an
nouncement was taat her principal mo-
tive In demanding an indemnity was to
ensure lasting peace.
1t has been represented today, that
Great Britain has been putting pressure
on her ally to make peace. This Is I'M
true. England has earnestly desired
peace, principally on account of the Nl-
ropean crisis and In order to curb the
kaiscr's adventurous spirit. Japan is
fully aware of this and she Is full SYM
pathy with the British wishes. but she
has not been called upon to sacrifice her
own interests in this or any other re-
| spect.
| 1t is in its effect upon the European
situation that peace Is the most welcome.
Today'e news from Portsmouth relieves
grave anxieties in several capitals. There
was serious danger of renewal OF the
peril to European peace which alarmed
| the world early in the summer. The per-
| sonal relations between King Edward
and Emperor William are so strained as
| to amount to positive hostility. The Mo
rcccan crisis Is again becoming serious.
The fact that Russia will now be able
| to place a large force on her western
frontier at short notice must have a
restraining influence of immense value
during the developments of the near
future. Europe welcomes peace for her
own sake, and therefore with a sensa-
tion of intense relief.