New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-24
RUSSIA DESIRES PEACE.
Compensatory Considerations IN Lieu
of Cash Indemnity.

St Petersburg March 23.-The Ministers and
supporters of the court who advocate the sub
mission of pacific proposals to Japan. as prevl-
ousy set forth in these dispatches, so as 10
ascertain whether an honorable basis OF peace Is
possible believe they have carried the day and
The Associated Press hears on high authority
that an actual step is imminent if not already
taken.
AS cabled to The Associated Press from St.
Petersburg last night it was announced that at
the conference recently held at Tsarskoe-Selo con-
corning the question whether Russia should now
indicate her willingness for peace, all agreed hrst
ly, that preparations to continue the w5r shall not
be relaxed and. secondly, to reject Illuminating
terms
There wouI1 probably be two points which
Russia would be found implacable-namely. cesson
of territory and indemnity-to neither OF which, IL
was said, would Emperor Nicholas ever agree
1t pointed out. however. that if Japan .seri-
ously desires enduring peace. Russia might be
ready to offer liberal compensatory considerations
For instance. in lieu of direct indemnity. she might
turn to Japan the proceeds of the sale OF all
the rights and property of the Port Arthur ana
Dalny and the Chinese Eastern railways and lib
orally pay for the maintenance of Russian pris-
oners in Japan. and. while refusing to cede Sag
halin, might grant rights to the fisheries there or
even renquish all the valuable seal fisheries on the
Commander Islands.
1t is possible Also that satisfactory arrangements
might be made regarding Russian naval strength in
Eastern waters for period of years.
The terms which Japan will probably insist upon
for negotiating peace will undoubtedly include the
retention by the island empire of Port Arthur
which she has twice conquered by almost incredible
efforts, and the right TO maintain a protectorate
over Corea, the natural outlet on the mainland for
the surplus population of her own islands.
How far the question OF indemnity will be in
sisted by Japan it will take time to determine.
Doubtless amount sufficient to the ex-
penses incurred in carrying on the conflict would
be sought. There is possibility that Russia might
be willing to sell and Japan to purchase the Chi
nese Eastern Railway and the Port Arthur and
ton of the indemnity. The indemnity paid by
France to Germany after the close of the war of
1870 amounted TO five milliards of francs. about
S1,O00OO0OOO
The transfer of Saghaen Island. which Russia
obtained from Japan in 1873 by exchange for the
kurile Islands, might be insisted by Japan. as
the oil and fishing rights there said to be among
Gently secured by Japan. But the use of Saghalien
as penal colony by Russia would possibly pre-
clude this, and compromise might be made by
the grant by Russia of fishing rights off Saghaien
and the right to catch seals on the Commander
Islands.
If negotiations undertaken ii is deemed prob
able that hostilties will be suspended pending their
conclusion in terms that are acceptable to both
parties, broken off by mutual consent II
there should be any proposition which would tend
to humiliate Russia to destroy the prestige she
would still possess in Manchuria by reason of her
railroad concessions it would undoubtedly be
promptly rejected.