The San Francisco call., 1905-05-23
Count Kdt0 Tells the
Possible Terms
of Peace.

TOXIC, May o2.-Count Okuma, former
Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In recent interview on the question of
intervention. said that a great change In
the lines of diplomacy of different powers
being the natural outcome OF the pres
ent war. it was difficult TO make
prophecy Increasingly closer relations
between England and France. he said.
was already one of the very significant
phenomena resulting from the war. The
Count declared that Germany could have
no other feeling than satisfaction at md
ing her northern rival becoming grad
ually weakened by the war. and would
recognize the foolishness of antagonizing
Japan ii Germany could maintain and
develop her interestsah the Far East
Okuma saw no occasion for interven-
ton unless a European conference could
be formed and he could not understand
who would take the initiative so long as
Germany did not suffer by the war. Ger
many he asserted, was reaping benefits
of various kinds and would follow the
policy of get the best and as much as
possible
TERMS OF. THE JAPANESE
Count Kato. former Minister of For
eign Affairs, and former Minister to
Great Britain. discussing the same ques-
tion, said:
Il do not think there will arise any
occasion for Intervention. doubt If
Russia has fixed purpose and aim either
to fight or to conclude peace. 1t seems
to me that the ultimate result is left TO
whatever the future may bring to Rus
sia. There seems to be no prearranged
plan. Should Russia be determined to
hold vladivostok. it would be 10 her ad-
vantage to conclude peace before she
loses ii. But she knows no desire for
peace and her policy Is devoid of any
definite plan so there can be no occasion
for a third power to attempt interven-
ton in the near future
Even the loss of Vladivostok might
not prompt Russia to seek peace. She
could go on retreating indefinitely, hop
ing TO exhaust US thereby. We might
take Harbin and go farther north, but
Russia could continue her policy OF re-
treat. thereby giving no occasion for a
third party to intervene. Should Russia
ask for peace we shall insist upon an
unconditional armistice and when the ne
gotiations are opened we shall require
Russia 10 return Manchuria to China,
recognize our sovereignty over Korea,
transfer Sakhalien to US, remove perma-
nently the fortihcations Of vladivostok
and pay an indemnity Of at least 2,000,-
100000 yen $4,000, 900. .0o0). Such lib
eral terms will afford no occasion for
Intervention
WILL BE A LONG WAR.
1.-THE scene of hostilities in Manchuria
being without any special interest TO the
powers, none of them would be prompted
to take action TO stop the war. On the
contrary, the war Is affording a lucrative
trade to some of them in supplying ma
terials for war;
Looked at from diplomatic stand
point, Germany. seeing her eastern dan
ger lessened by the war. and Russia
gradually weakened will naturally enter
tain the hope Of further reduction in the
strength Of her formidable neighbor.
England will feel satisfaction over the
blows dealt by her ally to her traditional
foe. The United States, much as she
sympathizes with US. will not welcome an
excessive development OF Japan's power.
| lest it should cause future trouble and
would not view with disfavor the gradual
weakening of both combatants- France
alone must be sincerely desirous OF seeing
the war terminate. but single-handed she
can do nothing TO cause any change.
Both the present and the future, to my