The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-19
HAVE NO RIGHT
TO THE ISLAND
japanese Hold Sakhalin by Force of
Arms.
HISTORY GIVEN BY RUSSIAN
REASON POSSESSION is NOW
DESIRED.

Portsmouth, y. H., Aug. 1S.-Having
read the statement from a Japanese
member Of parliament, made a few days
ago TO the Associated Press, giving the
Japanese attitude regarding Sakhalin,
Alexandra Briantchaninoff correspon-
dent Of the Slovo of St. Petersburg, voic-
ing the Russians exception to the state
mont. said today:
zone Of the great bars TO the conchI-
SION OF a treaty of peace. so much de-
sired by the whole civilized world, is the
on the question of Sal1haiin. The jan
ancse pretend that SakhaIin is really an
GrsaH,c part of their empire. They say
t only came into RussIas possession
Shrough force, and that Russia would
I4se httie in ceding ii back to Japan, as
5hc mas shown her inability TO exploit
ITS resources, having used it only for
the colonization of criminals.
BY Right of Conquest.
The japanese people they say. on the
contrary. have always considered them
selves the rightful owners and, having
now taken II by conquest, will never sub
NIT 70 re1nquish1ng it. OF course it
II certain that the Japanese. once in le-
SaI possession OF the island, will ac-
cOnpilSh there much more than the Rus
sian government has in the past not
only IN an agricultural, industrial and
tary and strategic way. We can1ot de
NJ that the success of their arms has
given them certain claims to the island
out these are the only claims they pos
sess- But -<5session can only be legal
lied by the ratification of a treaty.
History of the Island.
1t is an error for them to claim his
t0iicat rights to the possession. IJp TO
the lasf century the island was inhab-
~ only by the native barbaric tribes
Ihen few Russian colonists landed and
92ccupleu certain parts of the island. The
JaPanese began fishing in the waters of
lue southern end Of the island. Some
very small fishing villages were built.
AT last the legal status of the island
arose. propositions were made 70 di-
vide 1t between Russia and Japan. The
Japanese never made any claim 10 the
WnoIe OF the island and their political
IS9o treaty of Symodo). and 1875 (treaty
OF 81 Petersburg, the Japanese onIy
d $50 the dellmitation of the frontier
t DeLweeh the Two possessions at the ex-
IRENE south OF the island In 1873 the
Japanese minister for foreign affairs
2oIesSlma, proposed to Russia to cede
the Japanese part of the island in ex-
change for Russian neutrality during the
war of conquest which they then CON
templated against Korea and finaIIv in
1870 II was the japanese who transferred
me poIr parleurs regarding the island
a conclusion, receiving in return for
their possessions in South SakhaIin the
Russian Kurlics.
Claim Not Warranted.
- They The never claimed they were forced
20 ths exchange No one in Japan pro-
interests i'm the waters of the island hav-
ing been fully protected. They then
mace no pretensiOnS to colonization there
as they had not yet completed the col
onlzatIon of the most nOrtherly of their
own group Of Observation-Disclosures In
stead or desiring to extend their col
onlzing efforts northward. they had
turned their eyes to the more allurfne
prospects TO the west and sOuth-[0 roa
Formosa and the Philippines. The claims
10 historical and national rights to the
Islands is not therefore warranted Tbe
japanese in "A word. are seeking to profit
oy tnelr present success to completely
ana definitely assure their paramount 20
Sluon IN the far east. SakhaIin in their
hands means Nladivostok. Russia's sole
ana insufficient base on the Pacific at
the mercy of Japan Vladivostok could
be attacked from three sides Russia
would no longer have the possibility of
resisting Japan's encrOachment. At her
bidding she would be compelled to with
draw from her position in the Orient
Japan claim to Sakhalin is easily
comprehended- But il is impossible TO
understand the lack of foresight of Amer
lca. france and even England. which do
not seem 20 realize the impending and
far-reaching consequences"