New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-06
N. DE MARTENS'S VIEWS.
The War Without Precedcnt-Rus-
sia's Neat Struggle.

Portsmouth n. H, Sept. 5.-M. de Martens,
in reply to a request to express his views on the
treaty just signed, said tonight:
Your request for my personal opinion on the
treaty is somewhat embarrassing on account or
the part although modest which l took in the
work of the peace conference at portsmouth:
However if my opinion can. even in a small
degree enlghten the political situation and as
sist in a right and impartial appreciation or
the treaty of Portsmouth, l am ready to say
what think l have not the intention of con-
demning praising anything, and VIII limit
myself to rudimentary elements which
may help in the formation of just ana en-
lightened public' opinion.
/ The last war between Russia and Japan has
no precedent in the annals of international
wars it is unique and original in its exploits
well in the conditions of the struggle
Russia sustained reverses and misfortunes
which nobody expected. Japan obtained sue
cesses which surprised even the japanese pa
triots. 1t must be admitted that such war
during eighteen months. on the territory of a
neutral state is absolutely new condition in
the annals of international relations.
Considering these extraordinary circum-
stances, it is only too natural that the clauses
of the treaty Of peace signed to-day regard
more the neutral states, Corea and China, than
the territorial possessions of the two bellfgerent
powers. 1t only at the last moment al
most at the opening of the peace conference,
that Russian territory, a part of the Island Of
Sashalien occupied by the Japanese
On account of this situation the present
treaty of peace between Russia and Japan will
lomatists. They will be astonished In seeing
that after terrible struggle between two great
military powers, having shed torrents of human
blood, a treaty of peace was concluded the
clauses Of which regard almost exclusively
Corea and Manchuria, The surprise of the fut-
ure impartial historian will increase with the
knowledge that before the Japanese pre-
dominance in Corea was already formally
recognized, and that Russia never intended to
oppose the principle of the open door in Man
churia, solemnly proclaimed by the Treaty
of Portsmouth.
That is why Russia could not admit the Jap
anese pretension Of reimbursement for the
cost of the A belligerent country the
territory of which is intact and not occupied
by the enemy is not TanQuished and cannot
pay tributes. That is why Russia for love
of peace, sacrificed the southern part of Sag
halien. However all the other clauses of the
treaty of peace regard Corea and Manchurla
and show the incontestable fact that Russia
for the moment abandoned her grandiose and
worldly policy in the direction of distant and
uncertain fields of the Far East.
Personally, am convinced that after having
known the clauses of the treaty of peace the
Russian nation will not fret, but will gather
together all her forces for a new great struggle.
not the battlefield, but the field of pro-
ductive work and of social and political prog
ress. That is why, according to my deep and
unshakable conviction. all the recrfmlnation and
reciprocal accusations provoked in my country
by the disasters of should cease. The mo-
ment of the gathering of all our forces the mo-
ment of working consCientiously regardless OF
class social position, has begun