The Tupelo journal., 1905-04-14
THE ATTITUDE OF
THE JAPANESE
A Significant Article From the Pen
Of a Japanese Statesman.
FOOD FOR RUSSIA TO DIGEST
The Abstract Question OF Indemnity
Discussed, and Hussia's Own
Boast APPLY Quoted
Against Her.

LONDON, April SuyemalSu,
formerly Japanese minister of the in
terror, has written an interesting and
significant article for the Outlook un-
der the beading, 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 Bushido.
"a canon of the Japanese Bushido
is, One should not sheath the sword
unless one is totally overcome or has
secured equitable satisfaction for ones
cause This is our ideal in internal
intercourse. The sword of Japan is
drawn, and the aim for which it was
unsheathed has scarcely been attained.
We want a peace which will secure
tranquility in the far east at least a
generation or two.
Stake of the Two Powers.
"The world should know that in the
present war Japan staked her very ex-
istence, whereas with the enemy it
was a mere war of caprice. Why, then,
in case of defeat, should not Russia
be made responsible in equitable ac-
cordance with the nature of the af-
fair? | believe, therefore, that in case
of the adversary asking for peace, the
satisfaction which she will have to
make to Japan should include making
good the material loss Of Japan; in
other words, indemnity"
Simply Outlined Fer Idea.
Baron Suyematsu 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
indemnity as a basic condition, and
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
continues, that for humanity's sake
an armistice should be concluded,
with a view to negotiating peace. 1t
is all very we'll to talk of humanity,
but no injustice must be perpetrated in
the name of humanity. If a PROPOSE
ton arising out of the question OF hui
mainly gives more advantage to one
than another of the contending parties
it can not be justice
About ..Saving Russia's Face"
Baron Suyematsu treats sarcastical-
ly the special pleas that Russia should
be allowed to save her face, and
compares Japan to a dwarf fighting a
giant, and says: THE public at large
seems TO have gagged the relative
value of Russia and Japan. They are
glad that the large bubble, which has
been causing a nightmare to so many
people for so long a time has been
pricked. They have seen that it was
no use to suppress Japan's aspiration
by the combined force of western pow
ers. Yet, there seems floating in the
air some sort of compassion for our adj
versary. This | deer1 an inconsistency
arising out OF some psychological in
stability"
Russia QuOted Against Herself.
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 says, "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:
Only What Justice Demands.
Some say that Japan might be in
duced to forego a claim for indemnity,
provided England and America gave
good assurance for future peace. We
appreciate. of course, the general SEN
timents 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
were to be told that we should forego,
on account of that friendship, any
claim to what we deem justice to de-
mand."