New-York tribune., 1905-08-26
MONEY OR BLOODf

ne +ro fatty contradictory reports we are
oIod ~ baIieve the one which is the pleasanter,
the more reasonable and the more hope1ul OIL
good, even though they may both appear 10 Dc
of equal authority. We were therefore lncllneu
to discredit the report that the RUSSIAN bofeisn
Minister had committed the amazing act Oh ue
clarine. over the heads Of the peace ENJOYS, that
Russia would pay no indemnity IN any loiLn "
Japan and would make no cession OF territory,
and to accent the later denial that he had said
anv such thing IT seemed incredible that Count
Lamsdorfr. no matter what were his personal
feelings In the matter, could have mace such
statement without at least informing ana con-
sulting Mr. Witte and Baron Rosen, WhlIe lor
him or for any one in any circumstances to
have said It would have challenged unfortunate
compar arisons with NJ Favre's positive boast IN
1871 that France would pay Germany no money
and cede not an inch of land. The Quesuoh OIL
cession of land is not pertinent at lhls tllne'
since Japan makes no demand Tor any she ls
content with what she has, and 1t is Russia tnat
is understood to want territory ceded to her.
But to say that Russia will in no case pay an
indemnity In any form certainly seems extreme,
If not Illogical
Here is the logic of the case, from the Japa-
nese point OF view, as set forth In our speclal
correspondence from Portsmouth: The belllger-
ent that was in the wrong in the beginning OF
the war, and that is defeated in the war, should
at least in principle-pay indemnity or be ac-
countable for the costs Of the war. Now, Rus
sia has certainly been defeated Perhaps 1t is
not a final defeat. Certainly 1t is not COM
plete conquest. But she has been driven out
Of Corea, she has been driven out OF a large
part Of Manchuria, her remaining positions in
Manchuria and even in the maritime provinces
Of Siberia are In jeopardy, and her power at sea
has been annihilated. So far as the war has
gone she has been beaten. Moreover, by con-
ceding. as her ENJOYS have done, every one Of
the antebellum demands Of the japanese she
has practically admitted that she was in the
wrong in the ante-bellum controversy, or in the
incidents that led TO the Therefore on
the basis of accomplished facts and of her own
admissions and concessions, she Is morally liable
for the costs of the war or for indemnity. For
her to say she Will not pay indemnity to any ex-
tent and will not concede the principle of in
demnity, seems therefore much Ike refusing TO
meet the responsibility of her own acts.
AS a matter of principle, then, Japan contends
that Russia ought to pay an indemnity, and we
must regard with some surprise and regret the
statement that It is entirely upon grounds of
principle that she refuses to do So If she were
willing to concede the principle Of indemnity,
but insisted that the sum should be small or
merely nominal her attitude would be quite in
telligible On the other hand, it would seem
that Japan might do well to waive the question
OF amount, and to be satisfied with the estab-
lishment of the principle. Her logical demand
is for the principle Of indemnity. and not for
any specific amount Since, as we have already
indicated, there is no question Of honor involved
there is for each nation only the question of ex-
pediency 1t Is for Russia to consider whether
1t would not be better TO concede the principle
Of indemnity than to go on to further enormous
losses, and It is for Japan to consider whether
1t would not be better to accept comparatively
small amount than TO proceed with a war whose
increasing cost might never be met by any in
creased indemnity which could be exacted In
the future. We cannot regard it as wise for
Russia 10 say she will spill immeasurable blood
rather than pay a single kopeck or admit the
principle Of indemnity, or for Japan to say she
will continue the war, with all It's unspeakaby
awful possibilities. rather than abate a dollar
of her demands. Money or blood" would not be
creditable alternative for any civilized nation
TO propose.