The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-17
DEMANDS OF JAPAN
Presented to Witte By Ko-
m3ra at Peace Conference.
HITS RUSSIA HARD LICK
Enormous Reimbursement for Cost of
War and Long List Of Conces-
sions Asked as Basis for Peace.
Answer is ProbIematical.

Reimbursement for the expendl.
lures sustained in the prosecution of
the war AMI the cession of the island
OF Sakhalia constitute the main fea-
lures Of the peace conditions handed
by Baron Komura to Mr.. Witte at
! the conclusion of Thursday mornings
session of the pIenipotentiaries at
Portsmouth, the word indemnity be-
ing carefully avoided, the term en-
ployed being Reimbursement" for the
cost of the war.
No sum is fixed, the amount being
distinctly adjourned for mutual ad-
jrstmeat between the two countries
after the Japanese expenditure has
been escertained.
These are the two all-important
conditions and those which the Rus.
sian zlenipotentiaries find absolutely
unacceptable. Unacceptable, as they
are, however, it can be stated that
these two principal conditions did not
come as surprise to the Russian
pienipotentiaries The friendly fashion
in which Baron Komura explained the
conditions before handing them to Mr..
Witte and the avoidance of the use
OF the worI Indemnity" in the pre-
sentation Of Japan's bill for the cost
OF the war, without fixing sum, leaves
the way open for negotiations and
constitutes the main hope that final
agreement Is possible.
The other terms are substantially
what the world expected and with one,
perhaps two, exceptions, could prob
ably be entertained as bases Of ne
gotiation. They include the following:
The cess!on Of the Russian lease 20
the Liaotung peninsula, comprising
Port Arthur and Dalny; the evacua-
tion of the entire province Of Mail
churia, the retrocession to China Of
any privileges Russia may have IN
the province and the recognition by
Russia Of the principle of the "open
door," the cession to Japan Of the
Chinese eastern railroad below H, =
bin, the main line through northern
Manchuria to Vladivostock to remain
Russian property; the recognition OF
the Japan protectorate over Korea.
The grant OF fishing rights to Japan
in the waters Of the Siberian littora!
northward from Vladivostok to the
Behring sea; the REIMBURSEMENT to ia
ran of the Russian warships interned
IL neutral ports; finally a limitation
upon the naval strength OF Russia in
far eastern waters.
AS a whole, the terms are regarded
as exceedingly hard by the Russians.
In addition to the two principal con-
ditions which cannot be accepted un-
der Mr.. Witte's instructions, those re-
lating to the limiting Of Russia's naval
power In the far east and the granting
of fishing rights upon the Russian lit
toral are considered Of such humil-
iating character as to be inadmissible.
The Japanese, on the contrary, as
Baron Komura announced at the cor
ference, consider them moderate, con.
tending they only represent a fair
compensation for the expenses OF the
war and the victories they have
achieved on land and sea, their sole
purpose being to attain the objects for
which they have fought, the spolls
claimed being only such as they are
legitimately entitled to as the result
Of their army and naval successes. The
Russian plenipotentiaries as soon as
the japanese terms were in their
hands called in the five expert dele
gates attached to the mission ana
spent the whole afternoon in the con-
sideration Of the terms. meantime
the conditions had been placed In cl'
pher, and cabled to the car with NJ
Wittes personal recommendations.