20th September. 'The statesmen of Japan responsible for the concessions made to Russia' which enabled the treaty of pence to be signed, have been explaining publicly why it seemed desirable to. them and to the Emperor to agree to terms which the majority of the Japanese newspapers, and a number ofthe people hoare influenced by the newspapers they are in the habit of teading,-stigmatise as dis honourable and intolerable. Forsome months the Japanese had been told, nob only by their own newspapers, but also by their friends abroad, that they had' every right to demand an indemnity, and that if they were firm they could; get it. But they must make Russia understand that'an indemnity was sine'qué non,-as was the'retention of Saghalien. Mr. de Witte and his imperial master never disguised their intention to refuse to pay an indemnity, however grent the pressure Drought on them. There was at first a belief that this was a piece of the ordinary Russian bluff; bit as the conferétice proceeded, the Japanese "Envoys "realised: that it was a fixed determination, 'While the Jatated nation is a unit from the 'Mikado down to the-latest recruit so thatvevery incident of the war vibrates through and affects: the whole people, there is'no such tnity in Russia, Even if the Czar is-told the' truth from day'to'day, which' very doubtful, there is sucha deep gulf fixed in Russia between the ralers and ruled; the sufferings of the: people are of so little. avcdunt to those in high "places in St. Petersburg, that to the latter the: loss "of another battle, or of a "remot-isand" in the Far' Kdst is a'trifling incident, and the death of twentyer thirty thousand more Russian soldiers 'a bagatelle, compared witl' the loss of prestige in Eutope which the pay: iment of un indemnity would entail, Realising this, the Mikado and his Government, with rare- moral courage, for "they must have foreseen the deep disappointment which the "concession would cause to the people, aid the opportunity it would give to the Opposition Press to atruck the Cabinet, waived altogether the demanded indemnity, and gave up the northern half of Saghalien. Wehave shown before that Japan has nevertheless secured much more than she went to wat to-secure; and it is now interesting. to see some of the reasons given b, her statesmen for concluding Vic2-Admiral Baron Yamamoto, the Minister of the Navy, has spoken from the point of view of his Depurtment; If the war had continued, the next task before the navy was the reduction of Viadivostock. Here, said the Baron, the fortifications were stronger than those of Port Arthur, and.: the work would have required'a very heavy expenditure and a further heavy loss of life. " From these losses Japan would not shrink for amomenb if au: adequate result -could: be obtained; but it is now evident that while the objects for which Japan began'the war have been attained, Russia has no poiutoin'the Far East iwhosé.luss is vital to her now thab Port "Arthur -hus*gone, and: Japati might spend another hundred: millions sterling without being any nearer getting an indemnity. Count Katsura's speech to the representa tives of the Press at Tokio on.the8th instant dealt- mainly with the uecessity for the proclamation of martial law.. But in his address he: mention ed briefly the reason: why Jnpan'did not allow. the work-of the'Peace'Gouference to end in total failure.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.