The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-04-08
JAPAN INSISTS
UPON INDEMNITY
If Russia Will Not Pay, the War VIII
Go on.
BARON SUYEMATSU'S VIEWS
MATERIAL LOSS SHOULD BE
MADE GOOD.

London, April Baron Suyematsu
formerly Japanese minister of the in
terror, has written an interesting and
significant article for the Outlook I'M
der the heading, War and Indemnity
The japanese Claim
The whole trend of the article is in
tended to show that Japan will carry
on the war until Russia consents to
pay indemnity. The baron says:
a canon of the japanese bushido is
one should not unsheath the sword
unless one is totally overcome or has
secured equitable satisfaction for ones
cause This is our ideal in information
al intercourse. The sword * drawn
and the aim for which it was un-
sheathed has scarcely been attained
We want a peace which will secure
tranquility in the far east for at least
a generation or two.
Staked Her Existence.
The world should know that in the
present war Japan staked her whole
existence, whereas with the enemy it
was mere war of caprice. Why then
IN case of defeat should not Russia be
made responsible in equitable accord
ance with the nature of the affair."
believe, therefore. that in case of the
adversary asking for peace the salts
faction which she will have to make to
Japan should include making good the
material loss of Japan; in other words
indemnity"
Baron Suyenatsu says further:
Japan has not formulated definite
terms of peace, because she might be
accused of skinning the bear before it
IS shot We have, however, outlined
our idea"
The article argues out the righteous
ness of Japan's position in demanding
h-- =
cOntrOVerts the idea which, he SAYS. he
finds prevalent outside of japan. that
Japan is willing to make peace at any
price Some say the baron con-
tinues. that for humanitys sake an
armiStiCe should be concluded with a
view to negotiating peace. It is all very
well TO talk of humanity. but no injus-
uce must be perpetrated in the name Of
humanity. If proposition arising out
of the question of humanity gives more
advantage to one than another of the
cOntendlng parties il cannot be justice"
Baron Suyematsu treats sarcasticalIy
the special plea that Russia should be
allowed TO save her face" and COM
pares Japan to a dwarf lighting a giant,
and says:
Aspirations for World Power.
THE public at large seems to have
gagged the relative value of Russia and
Japan. They are glad that the large
bubble which had been causing night
mare to so many people for so long
time has been pTiCked. They have seen
that it was no use to suppress JapanS
aspirations by the com bined force of
western powers. Yet there seems float
ing in the air some sort of compassion
for our adversary. This 1 deem an in
consistency arising out of some psyche
logical inSta bility."
Baron Suyematsu refers TO the an
nOuncement Of St. Petersburg early in
the war that an enormous indemnity
would be demanded. and that the terms
would be dictated in Toxic. I'VE are
far from assuming such an attitude"
the writer saws. but we believe that
justice ought to be done US. No mere
sentiment shall be allowed TO decide the
merits Of the case"
In conclusion. Baron Suyematsu SAYS:
Some say that Japan might be in
duced TO fOregO claim for indemnity
provided England and America have
good assurance for future peace. We
appreciate, of course, the general senti-
ments Of England and America. We
are anxious TO maintain the best friend
ship with these two countries more
particularly than other countries. We
should, therefore, be very sorry if we
are to be told that we should fOrego on
account of that friendship any claim
to what we deem just