Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-07-27
It Remains With Russia
TO Answer the Question.
Japan's Terms viii Be All
Ready for the Conference
And Russia Must Accept, Before the Hsgu.
tiatons Can Continue.

Washington. July 26.-Whether there
is to be peace in the Far East or a con-
t:nuance of the war will practically be
decided in the first business meeting
of the Washington conference, which
win convene at the navy yard, Kittery,
Me-, about Aug. D. Baron Komura
Will on that occasion commun-
icate to NJ. Witte, the essentials OF
Japan's peace terms for further nego-
tiations. This, it is declared, will not
be done in sperit Of defiance, indeed
there are many evidences in the possess
sion of the neutral governments that
Japan is coming to the Washington
conference. not imbued with a desire
to humiliate Russia, but only to exact
terms which will insure a lasting
peace in the Far East, and which will
in measure compensate Japan for the
financial losses in the present conflict.
Throughout the preliminary negotia-
tions. however, Japan has made it clear
at Washington that she wished to
avoid unnecessarily tedious negotia-
tions. 1--WE are not going to the confer
ence TO write into the law of nations
a rev chapter" said high Japanese
official recently. For this reason, the
Japanese plenipotentiaries will adopt
the program of at once laying on the
conference table these terms, the ac-
ceptance of which without modifica-
ton they are instructed to insist upon
4 basis for further negotiations.
1t is known that Japan will demand
IN indemnity that will approximately
cover the cost of the war to date. This
was communicated to Russia early in
the preliminary negotiations. The
amount is still a secret, but is is based
upon the most careful estimates of the
war and will be accompanied by a more
or less detailed statement, showing the
method by which the final figures were
computed. 1t will not fall far short OF
81. 600 100000 according to advices
reaching here from we'll posted sources.
Besides the indemnity. it is believed
Japans other essentials to the contin-
uance of negotiations are the cession to
Japan of Sakhalin and the trarsfer OF
Russia's lease of the Liao Ting Pc
ninsula, and of the railway as far as
Harbin; the recognition of Japan's pre-
dominating influence in Corea and the
return of Manchuria to China.
AS for subjects remaining to be dis
cussed. tedious one, it is believed.
to negotiate with greatest caution Is
the program for the restoration or
Manchuria to Chinese control. Because
Of the confusion and general disorder
likely to ensue in the province after the
withdrawal of the foreign armies, Jap
an believes that certain time will be
required in which to restore public or
der and to establish a regular system
of Chinese police administration. Dur
ing the period Japan will insist that
she remain in control Of the adminis-
tration of the province, at the same
time, giving definite pledge finally to
evacuate as soon as China shall be in
q position to take up the reins OF gov
ernment there and maintain order.
A second subject for the plenipoten-
tiaries to settle will be the surrender
of ali Russian ships now interned in
neutral ports. Some officials are in
clned to believe that this demand will
form one of the essentials" while
others claim ground for believing that
Russia may induce Japan to take these
in part payment of the indemnity.
Europe believes Japan will demand
the naturalization of Vladivostok. In
official circles, here, the statement Is
made without hesitation that such a
demand would not be moderate" or
reasonable" and it Is known that
Russia will not permit the subject OF
Vladivostok to come before the con-
ference. Rather than submit to Jap
ans lictation on this point. Russia has
yet it be known that she would certain
ly continue the war.
Little progress has been made in the
direction of an armistice. Japan has.
in the most determined manner indi-
Gated it's unwillingness to consent to
an armistice until her plenipotentiaries
have met the Russians in the confer
ence room The object of this. 1t is
now explained in an authoritative
quarter, is because Japan wishes to be
Continued on Page Two.)