The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-25
THE QUESTION or INDEMNITY.
Argument That Japan Mas No Just Claim
70 Money Damages In the Present Case.

To THE EDIroR OF TIE SUH--Sir: At the
most critical stage Of the negotiations at
Portsmouth for the return Of peace the
efforts Of good men may he directed proftsbly
to the broad equities OF the case and TO re-
llnQulshment OF the Japanese demand for an
indemnity for any part OF tho cost OF the
war. We seem 10 forget what the war was
about. and especially do we forget that there
was no adequate cause for the war.
japan did not 20 TO war 70 redress specino
injury or TO obtain Justice. or to defend any
right which she was bound TO protect. or TO
redress definite wrong, or TO prevent imme-
diate apprehendsd injury. or to defend At
tacks on her sovereignty or her political life
or her territory. There was no question OF
self representation: nor did she 90 70 war to
protect any individual subject, or to obtain
satisfaction Tor violation OF her honor. or Ior
insults to her hss, or to her ambassadors. or
70 her good name. or for the violation OF .
treaty.
She Was not wronsed. nor did she fesl
sense Of wrong. Japan was In direct nego-
tlstlon with Russia with view Of arriving at
. friendly adjustment Of their mutual inter-
ests In both Manchuria and Corea when she
broke on these sotiatlons and took up arms.
japan initiated the negotiations, Russia
willingly assented. and they had been In
progress only from Aug. 81. 1908. TO Feb. o.
1904. These negotiations began about Cores
proposal was for the revision OF the existng
treaties with Corss. There was no great
diniouity about Corea. for Russia declared
herself willing to recognize Japan . privileged
commercial and economic position In Cores.
with the right to protect II by military foros
In the event of disturbances In that country.
but not to use the territory for strategic
purposes. Japan extended her demands TO
Manohuria. a. to which II was Russlas claim
Japan 3 sphere of interest. Russia had OBJ
tanned BY treaty with China lease Of Port
Arthur and the right to fortify 1t and TO
fortlfy Mukden and Hardin and To con-
struot the Port Arthur branch OF the Siberian
railroad to Port Arthur. and TO own IL and
control 1t. and this treaty and this control
OF both the railroad and Port Arthur were
not tho subject Of the negotiations between
Japan and Russia. The only question about
Manchuria was that Russia had repeatedly
declared that she would evscuste Manchuris
In the military sense as soon as China could
maintain order and protect property therein.
and particularly protect Russian life and prop
erty. for Russias railroad interests were
liable TO be destroyed. and yet she had not
Withdrawn her troops
But this was . matter not moro important
to Japan than 10 England France, Germany
and even to the United States. John Hay
had succeeded In obtaining commercial
privileges In the three important towns IN
Manohurla; Russia professed no intention to
absorb 1t. and stipulated for the territorial
integrity Of China and the maintenance OF
equal opportunities for the industry and
commerce Of all nations In China.
Russia was very slow In evacusting Man
churia, it is true. but she had more important
Interests there than any other nation except
China, and whether China was able; Y wiling.
Annvht 2,ln oh trl WRra n
cause for var and should hays been sub
Rsed to tho a.sSs seynb Rid Not Ssso
There reason e fear that r confer
essp sna G %anshu. .s s open
Ks s VIII 1sss 7s' =. a fss Il. sD
ciaa.se 'ftR R.s hass,s 's Within Tie limit 81
other nation In the enjoyment q rights and
treatles with China. exclusive OF the sstab'
whsn the VA broke 0pt nSbGdy +, 9 ,, f!t ;S
about and bow tho nssotis bad failed
titles Issued formal statements
y.p:n as hs Wss 81
estabIshlns tho real independenee Of Corea
sy., D S sbos al S.:. h Gh h.r.
were Two other al controlling facts. no. then
| generally known.
hs s1 BEEN yssf ana G It
'as %s shs ss sross :s
| this without observation and without the
Russia su was noe for wal.
euate force on the spot to defend her own
I'D IN hs sp.n s WAS s
.ir ds s:ps s is.. y. III Ill., Japan as now
so@pl:ti p.sRs!.tIson .na vague smbIs!sn.
sea asG rel s.e soSd soand
The YER did come. Japan .pretendinx that
hs6 no othsT from e: h 70
:: sss s e., ::
srstion q public opinion FOR the Reception Elton
none u Which We're truly pvt forth. We
SMa9eh.rl; q l, the y ysyy isSs q nSed paIp9ss
&, :;
general principle that controls. Has any
nation, Ia any part Of the world, Al any time,
for any cause, . right to declare war. begin
fSsn s %t Ike ss rel ssT 'ss
e e s ssd r ku..a G %:s p aSt
consent TO pay the Indemnity to avert greater
loss to follow. As matters now stand Russia
comedies to Japan its protsctorate over
Cores. consents to evacuate Manchuria, to
cede 10 China and Japan the Chinese Eastern
Railroad, Port Arthur and palny, and all
her rights In the Lfaotung peninsula, far
more than the original demands Of Japan.
Has now Japan the right to continue the
war. either for more territory or for greater
his army to lriutsk and Tobolsk, and Togo
sail for The Baltic merely TO obtain larger
TO be committed, or to redeem more territory
hereafter TO be tnyads d3
be exaetsd, nor should Russis Yield to this
ds%.nd. Hsyiln1s sfEssd On ..,S other i:;I.s
Rus;ia for any d reason should Pay money:
demption OF Sakhalln Island for the value
OF railroad interests surrendered In Manohu-
ria or the value OF her forts, can be left
without loss Of dignity 70 arbitration: Not
TO the regular work Of the Hague tribunal,
but to q special tribunal Of the highest dig.
nifty, composed, for example. OF the crowned
heads OF En- sIand and Germany and the Presi-