The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-14
What VIII Japan's Terms he Now L?

Immediately after the fall Of Port
Arthur it was announced unonicially,
but on what seemed 10 be good authority,
that Japan would consent TO make peace
on condition that Alanchuria should be
/ restored to China and that her own pro-
tcctorate over Corea and acquisition of
Russia's lease of the tip Of the Liaotung
peninsula should be recognized 1t was
then added that no pecuniary indemnity
would be asked for. To what extent are
these terms now likely to be modified, in
view of the serious losses incurred bv
the Japanese during the operations cul-
minatng in the victory of Mukden, which
has transformed the situation in the
Far Eas2
1t would scarcely be deemed unreason-
able on the part of the Toxic Govern
ment If, in addition to the earlier
demands, 1t should now exact n retro
cession ofthe Island of Saghalien and
surrender of Vladivostok together with
the adjoining coast strip that lies south
of the Amur River. If the war goes on
Russia cannot hope to retain that for
tress, which presently will be invested
by land and sea. Experience has shown.
moreover that blocked by ice as it is
throughout tho winter months, il is
comparatively useless as a naval station
in time of war. II is true that by the
abandonment of Vladivostok the Rus
sian Empire would forfeit the claim to
be regarded any longer as a maritime
Power in the Far East. By such a
formal remuneration, however, NICHOLAS
ii. would but recognize an accomplished
TACT In view Of the military and naval
prowess exhibited by the Japanese, il
should be evident to the Cars advisers
that the retention of an outlet on the
Pacific would cost more than it is worth. |
For access to the ocean Russia must look |
henceiorward 10 the Persian Gulf or to |
the Bosphorus, the traditional goal of her |
national aspirations or to the North Sea .
by way of the Scandinavian peninsula. |
The vision of an absorption of China
and of ascendency in the Pacific may as
well be given up. That dream has been
dispelled by Japan.
The Cars subjects would welcome
the REIMBURSEMENT of the attempt to
make Russia a Power on the Pacific.
The notion with which Russian officials
in the Far East strove to infect Senator
BEvERIDGE, the notion, namely, that
their country never goes backward, but
that its expansion is steady and ire
slstible, has no foundation in history
Without dwelling on the familiar fact
that the dominions of the House of
RURIK were conquered, and for two
centuries held in subsection, by the
Mongols, We may note that Kieff. the
ancient capital, was for hundreds of
years included in the Grand Duchy of
Lithuania, which itself was fused with
he kingdom of Poland, and that the
southern shore Of the Gulf of Finland
and the land on which st. Petersburg
low stands long pertained to Sweden.
In the eighteenth century Russia sur
'endered at the command of China all
he territory which had been occupied {
~ her pioneers south Of the Amur River. '
By the Crimean War Russia suffered a {
ecession OF her Armenian frontier and I
he loss Of Bessarabia in Europe. That '
o which Russia submitted at the behest
# China upward Of a century ago she q
nay well brook to-day at the hands of z
he formidable japanese. il
The It. Petersburg Government, which I
hitherto has repealed every suggestion
Z peace, could not justly complain if O
apan should now insist upon a money !
eIt will be remembered that v
fter the relatively short and bloodless 0
'ar OF 1894 between Japan and China t
he former Power received not only the
Aaotung peninsula together with For
losa and other islands. but also a De- \
uniary compensation amounting to "
l72,5ooOo0. At the end Of the Franco G.
russian War Of 1s7O-7l, which likewise :,
.as comparatively bFief, the victor de- h