The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1905-08-25

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THE PRESIDENT TAKING A HAND.
The President, il is understood, is
taking a hand in the Portsmouth nego-
tiations. A point has been reached
where rupture is regarded as almost
inevitable. 1t is now quite confident
ly expected that the negotiations will
ONE to an end early this week, per
haps at the meeting on Tuesday. Still
there is a chance that a way will be
found to overcome the seeming in
surmountable obstacles which are now
in the way Of further proceedings. The
ENJOYS have gone to the limit Of their
instructions, and the Miksdo and the
Gar have been cabled the situation.
1t is for them to open the way for a
continuance of the negotiations. IL Is
barely possible that the President may
make some suggestions that will have
helpful effect. 1t is understood that
Baron Rosen is having a talk with him
at Sycamore Hill. No one OF the Jap
anese ENJOYS Is expected to consult
with him. Hence, the inference is that
japan proposes to have what she has
demanded or continue the war. There
al four things the japanese demand
which the Russian refuse to concede.
They demand the Russian ships in
termed in neutral ports, the Limitation
OF Russia's sea power on the Pacific,
the cesslon of the Island Of Sakhalin
and an indemnity approaching the
amount the war has cost them.
Are the demands reasonable, all the
circumstances considered? As a mat
ter Of fact the ships are not worth a
great deal, and perhaps, japan would
be willing, II the other matters would
be adjusted to abandon her claim on
them. She asks the Limitation Of
r ussia's sea power on the Pacific, be-
cause she wants a permanent peace,
md il Russia were free to do as she
pleased it wouldn't be long before she
would be in a position to threaten ia
pan again. Japan would therefore be
compelled to sustain the expense OF a
large navy.
The Island Of Sakhalin is now in the
possession OF Japan, and there is no
way to get it away from her except to
take it by force, and Russia isn't in
any condition to use forcible means in
that part of the world at present. II
the indemnity claim were out of the
way, it is probable that all of the other
things could be adjusted, Russia's
pride balks at buying a settlement of
the war. The payment Of money is an
admission of defeat, and she doesn't
admit she is whipped. She has a
mighty army at Manchuria and mill
lions OF soldiers to draw upon for other
armies. 1t is true she is lacksng in
money for war expenses, but she could
manage to worry japan for long time
without any more money than she can
raise at home.
The question then is, would it be bet
ter to continue the war or to yield to
Japan's demands? 1t is quite certain
that if the war should be continued
and Japan should be victorious she
would strip Russia OF all of her Far
East possessions or ges an indemnity
much larger than she is now demand
ing. And the chance is that she would
continue to be successful, mainly be-
cause her forces are better organized
and the hearts Of her people are in the
war while those of the people OF Rus
STA are not. 1t would seem that the
wiser course of Russia to pursue is TO
make peace on the best terms she can
get, and it isn't improbable that such
is the advice of the President to Baron
Rosen.