The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-17

that only they themselves are able to OK
plain. They have hidden themselves be-
hind an inscrutable veil that defies the pene-
tration Of the European and the Occidental
mind and ability.
There are reports. which are accepted
confidently In some quarters, that the
Russians have never been for peace and are
only going through tho form Of negotiation
out OF respect to the President Of the United
Ctates, who brought them here. and regard
for the opinion Of the world. To believe
these mere rumors Is to place Mr.. Vito
and Baron Rosen in the category Of common
hypocritss and they certainly have not
created that impression OF their characters
by their conduct since they have been In
Portsmouth. II Is true that they have been
pessimistio from the first a. to the outcome
Of the exchanges, but there are indications
tonight that they are inclined to be hope
full. There seems to be every reason for
the assumption that they are willing to
mako peace II It can DO secured without q
loss Of Russian pride and honor.
Granting that the Russian ENJOYS are
sincerely anxious to arrange a treaty for
the resumption OF relations with their
enemy, . heavy responsibility must rest
upon the Japanese plenipotentiaries in
the conduct Of the negotiations from now
on. Upon them more than upon their
adversaries depends the adjustment OF
the question whether there shall be peace
or war. What they intend to do nobody
knows outside Of the limited Japanese
circle. They may have great surprise In
store. but they are conveying no hint OF 1t.
1t Is not beyond the bounds OF reason or
possibility that II the worst comes to the
worst and the Portsmouth conference is
on the point Of ending abortively they
will show a magnanimity that will appeal
to the heart Of the civilized world and
place the little people Of the East upon a
higher pedestal than their wonderful
powers as soldiers and sailors have given
them the right to occupy.
ALL CAUSES OF 7 HE WAR REMOVED.
In all this whirl Of speculation and I'M
certainty surrounding the outcome Of the
peace negotiations, the fact has been ap-
parently overlooked that already the jap
anese have gained every concession which
they sought from Russia prior to the out
break Of hostlities. Not q single thing
for which Japan contended In the days
when Russian troops occupied ManchuEa
and threatened the Corean border has been
withheld by the Cars plenipotentiaries
In the week OF negotiation that has passed
at Portsmouth. Russia has consented to
recognize the preponderance Of Japan's
influence In Corea. She has agreed to
guarantee the integrity of China and to
accept the principle Of the open door. She
has promised perforce to withdraw her
troops from Manchura. In fact, she has
given her pledge to leave China and Corea
alone In the future, and never again to
menace the peace and territory Of Japan.
These were the things for which Japan
went to war after declaring that she had no
other purpose than to preserve her own
country from the danger Of Russia's am
bilious schemes. More than that, Japan
has come into her own again through her
success at Port Arthur, and she now controls
the Liaotung peninsula, which Russia oocu-
pied and virtually owned, and the great
railway which gave the Russians access to
the sea at all seasons Of the year. 1t will
be seen from the above statement Of what
has been accomplished at the Portsmouth
conference that all the disputes which led
to the bloody Far Eastern war have been
adjusted to the satisfaction Of Japan. The
other demands made by the Toxic Govern
ment as conditions precedent to peace were
the outcome of hostilities, and are all Of a
punitive nature. Japan through her ENJOYS
at Portsmouth has secured promises from
Russia that the danger that arose from
the occupation Of Chinese territory by the
Cars forces shall never threaten again.
She knows that she has nothing more to
fear from the Slavic peril.
WILL JAPAN YIELD soMETHrNd7
In these circumstances 1t Is not un-
natural to ask whether the Japanese really
intend to throw away the remarkable sue
cess they have attained at Portsmouth,
refusing to deviats one iota from the letter
Of the additional demands which they
have made, mono Of them existing prior
to the war and nearly all Of a punitive or
humiliating character.
It is very generally asserted that the
Japanese conditions represent the ire
ducible minimum Of that Governments
demands and that all Of them must be
accepted in their entirety to insure peace.
But Jaran's ENJOYS have shown on more
than one occasion since the negotiations
were begun that they wore willing 10 COM
promise II the necessity existed. Russia
has, in fact, gained one or two points, and
tia articles NJ tina treaty. an far IA Il hna