Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-24
Russia and the Indemnity.

Russia's attitude toward the Japanese
terms. II 1t IS correctly stated in today's
dispatches from Portsmouth and St Peters
burg is quite untenable, being wholly char
acteristlc OF the Muscovite policy through
out the war. We have yielded and yielded
and can yield no more Is the substance of
the dictum of the cars representatives.
Russia cannot for moment contemplate
the possibility of paying an indemnity.
What has Russia yielded to Japan? IL
the latest statement of the peace PROPOSE
tons made by Japan is accurate. Russia
has granted nothing that has not been won
by force of arms. and has not given even
all of that Japan has asked and has
been granted In these tentative negotiations
the recognition of preponderating in
huence In Korea; the evacuation of Man
churia by Russia simultaneously with the
Japanese evacuation; the transfer by Rus
sin to Japan of the lease-hold in the Lao
Tung peninsula Port Arthur and DaIny;
restoration TO China of the civil admins
tration in Manchuria: transfer to Japan OF
the government works at Dalny and Port
Arthur without compensation; transfer to
Japau of the railroad between Port Arthur
and Dalny and Hardin: the grant of Japan
csc fishing rights in Siberian waters
With the exception of the demand last
named. all that Russia's ENJOYS have
granted may be said to be the direct usu-
fruct of war. Japan possesses the Lao
Tung peninsula. Port Arthur and Dalny.
the government works there and the greater
part of the railroad to Hardin. 1t dom-
mates Korea by reason of physical pres
encc to the total exclusion of Russia. Rus
STA is. moreover. nearly forced out of
Manchurla that the complete evacuation
,i.l,+ hsN Ia
csc armies.
OF the Japanese demands which Russia
has refused to grant. at least repre-
sents the direct results of the war-that re-
lating 10 Sakhalin. In asking for this terri
tory Japan asks that which she claims not
only by right of prior ownership wrested
from the mikado by force. but by right of
present physical possession. The Japanese
claim for the informed Russian vessels is
negl isible in this connection. being added
NJ ely to afford a trading factor. and the
same statement may safely be applied to
the demand for Limitation of the Russian
naval force in the Pacific. This latter
proposition is obviously assured for many
years to come by force Of circumstances.
and its appearance in the peace terms at
tests simply to Japans taste for detail.
The indemnity proposition is alone left.
Apart from the Sakhalin Island item and
those relating to the interned vessels and
Russia's future naval power. Japan has
asked for and has been thus far granted
nothing that does not stand for the fruits of
her war work. and part of that which Is
granted goes not to her own but to China $
advantage. Thus. if Russia refuses an in
demnity to the end of breaking off nego-
tiatlons the car will proclaim to the world
that he does not propose to reimburse
Japan for having been forced by Russian
bad faith to fight for the restoration in the
far east of the conditions which obtained
before the MuscOvite- French-German cabal
wrongfully deprived Japan of the rightful
fruits of the war with China
II brief. in refusing to indemnify Japan
for the cost of the war Russia seeks to
establish the principle that a nation can be
assailed from without. its integrity threat
ened and finally forced into war for self
preservation. and be required In the final
settlement to be content merely with that
which the loser should by right have granted
At the outset without a fight
This Is dangerous principle. Stripped
OF all other considerations the Russian
contention TO date is that Japan must pay
for having proved that Russia has been in
the wrong from the outset OF this conflict
II the car Is a sincere believer in peace
IN the high-sounding principles which he
enunciated In assembling The Hague con-
ference, he will hold today TO the whole
some doctrine that he who provokes an I'M
righteous war, refuses to arbitrate differ
ehces' violates treaties and breaks pledges
should pay for his errors and his sins