The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-08-05

(s1 OO0OO0000) from France, was IN position to-
dictate almost any terms. Her king had been
crowned emperor in the palce OF Versailles. Her
army was quarered in the very heart OF Paris and
practically the entire country held by the Prus
sian army But in the present situation there has
practically been no invasion of what is actualy
Russian territory. The Port Arthur operations re
suited in the capture of Russian property which
was N+cSated on land leased from China. The cap
ture of the portion of the Eastern Chinese railroad
is the capture of property which was eonstructea
ON Chinese land under treaty between Russia and
China and which road Russia Is obliged to sell &c,
China, if China desires to buy, after period o.
thirty years from the time of construction Ih.
only Russian territory that Japan has captured is
the Island Of SaghaIein and, according to the Ru-
sian view if Japan IS to demand an indemnity 7h-
must acquire by force of arms a stronger claim
than she possesses now
The island of Saghalein VIII figure in the claim
which Japan will put forth as indemnity. This
island lies very far north. a statement was pu
lished from St. Petersburg that it second
Alaska and contains mineral riches worth $1,000
100000. The island is being used as a penal s.-
ton
Japans Vast Preparations For War.
These terms, of course would be very harsh Il,
Russia especially if they were accompanied VITA
a demand for an indemnity equal to the amour.
which has been expended by Japan IN the war. How
uucn money japan spent preparing 1OI war a'.'
conducting it III its early stages will not be know
until the plenipotentiaries get face to face. 1t
known, however, that Japan during the doat.i
loans aggregating $8OO,OO0OO0.
Ar important point that will arise early I'm tl-
conference is, what is to become Of Manchuria ."
There is strong suspicion that if Japan has her
way the control of that country will merely Do.
transferred from Russia to Japan The Japanese
statesmen say eve will restore lIanchuria IL,
China after we have held it for a reasonable time
for the purpose of restoring order The japanese
writer's say that Japans influence must always be-
uppermost in Manchuria, that she must perpetuaIv
garrison it for the purpose of maintaining order
and because the Chinese government Is too weak
to administer it
United States Iitally Interested.
If China should become reasonably satisfied that
under Japanese rule she would still be deprived of
her rights in Manchuria she will have warrant ID,
appeal to the United States to her friendly Of
fees to obtain the restoration to her of her terri
tory. This country under two administrations is
ON record strongly against anything savoring of
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of China, and the United States
if Japanese designs should be distrusted, will yet
have opportunity of saying whether she wanted
| Manchuria under Chinese control when Russia had
it, but does not care about Manchuria being under
Chinese control when Japan has it.
| Thus it will be seen that the most important
question in the settlement of the Russian-Japaness
war is one in which the United States is vitality in
terested. And China believes that apan intends to
segregate Manchuria and develop that country for
the Japanese.
Nor is Corea at all satisfied with the promises
of Japan. This helpless country has been a buffer
state between China, Russia and Japan for many
years. and has been successfully under the control
of all three of these countries. Japan now holds it
| and seems to be holding it for the japanese Like
China, Corea intends to ask that she be repre-
sented at the peace negotiations. Japan replies
that she stands for the 'open door in Corea as well
in Manchuria, and Corea is quite as sceptica as
| China.