Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-06-12
JAPAN TO SAY
Continued from Page One.)


colleagues in the diplomatic corps and
Presidents message, thus avoiding the
formalities, delays and possible compli-
cations of the regular bureaucratic
channels.
President Roosevelt, through Ambas-
sador Meyer, has sent 4 personal mes
sage of thanks to Emperor Nicholas
for the reception of his appeal.
In diplomatic circles. here, it Is felt
that Great Britain can now play
great role in seconding the Presidents s
initiative by restraining her ally anu
Counselling moderate terms. Harsh and
numiliating terms would not be accept
ed, and for that reason diplomatic ciH-
cles express the greatest skeptlclsm as
to whether Japan, elected by her Won
tlerful victories, will be reasonable
enough to offer a basis which Russia
possibly can accept. If. at the end,
Russia were forced to humble herself
in the dust, her ignominy would spur
her to seek revenge as A'sace-Lorralnc
did France for many years.
Russia is likely to prove recalcitrant.
According to the best opinion, she Is
prepared to abandon the whole of her
Manchurian adventures and give guar
antees. The rub will come upon the
question of an idemnity which, it is
the concensuS of opinion in diplomatic
circles. Japan will exact. but if it
should be moderate and sugar coated
so that it could be liquid;ted by the
sale of the Chinese Eastern railroad
and the cessiOn of Russian property
and leases in the kwantung peninsula
it might be overcome. Russia probably
will insist on holding the railroad to
Vladivostok through northern Man
churia and will never Gubmt to the
humiliation of disarmament in her on
ly port in the Pacific nor to the inhi-
bition against having warships in those
waters.
Considering the situation of the two
countries, members of the diploma tic
corps feel that Japans status in the
Pacific is so firmly established that she
can afford to dispense with the eXac-
ton of so bitter condition. Though
the feeling against a CessiOn of actual
territory is strong, the island of Sax
halin, over which Japan and Russia
orce exercised co-dOminion, might be
ceGed or as an offset to the cessiOn of
ttat island, all fishing and other Rus
sian rights in the Commander islands
might be handed over 10 Japan.
In spite of official dubiousncss as to
the result, a Well-delined report was
current everywhere. today, although
The Associated Press could not trace
its source. that Russia bad already
pra ctically obtained Japan'S conditions
and they proved so surprisingly moder-
ate that Russia certainly would accept
them as Il basis for negotiations.
Newspapers supposed to have official
inspiration are loud in their skeptic-
ism regarding the practical results of
Pres. Roosevelt's action which, per-
haps, is quite natural
The radical papers continue their
tactics insisting that although the con-
cluson of hostilities is desirable. a dis
graceful peace would be intolcrable
and that only a natioTal assembly
should decide the question of war or
peace. The liberal papers profess to
fear that peace would strengthen the
government and give setback to re-
forms. but shrewd observers realize
that the government with the end of
the war will be confronted with the
most difficult problems. che of the
greatest of which would he what to do
with an army of ilalf Il million men
disgruntled with the results of the war.
With the single exception of the
Novo Vremya, the newspapers, wheth-
ar they believe in peace or not, join
in a chorus of praise Of President
Rooscvelt's friendly ard well-inten-
toned action. The Novo Nremya, on
the contrary. calls it an advertising
dodge and continues 10 charge the
President with playing the Japanese
game and recalling his action in the
case of the Russian ships ut Manila as
proof of his Unfricndlinesa.
No report from Rear Admiral Nebo-
Catoff has yet been received and this
fact, combined with the wording of the
F,mpcror'S recent dispatch to Vice Ad-
miraI Rojcstvensky IS creating end
less talk throughout the city.
In the EmperOr's message to Admiral
Roiestvensky he thanked the admiral
and "AlI the officers who have honor
ably done their duty" This restriction
of the Emperor's thanks. Il dispatch
from St Petersburg June ., said, was