PRICE OF PORT ARTHUR

Hokitika Guardian, 15 May 1920, Page 4

PRICE OF PORT ARTHUR

“HOW JAPAN WON THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.” . . AMAZING STORY. That Japan did not win the war with, Russia by force of arms, but by a. plot whereby she'bought victory from Russia, was 'alleged in a cablegram in tlie. New York American. It was liinted that she bought'the surrender of Port Arthur ' for 138,000,000 yen, or about £13,800,000 in • English money. It is stated that the documents concerning the transaction are in tlie I vaults of a great London banking house.

and that photographic copies found their way to the American Embassy in London. As a matter of fact these documents wore some time ago shown to various members of the British Government.

Photographic copies of the documents and the full istory of the alleged pl< t have come into the possession ot “the Daily Mail.” It is the story of the man who states that he is acting for the financially interested parties in Russia. He says that a protracted war meant victory for Russia, and the Japanese statesmen “recognised that their only chance lay in a rapid succession of brilliant coups in conjunction with divided counsels on the Russian side. POLITICAL INTRIGUE.

“One of the means chosen by Japan for furthering her policy was the payment of substantial sums of money to members of that political party in Russia which was committed to far-reach-ing plans of constitutional reform. | “Apart altogether from the cash consideration in question, the policy of i these Russian, reformers inclined them strongly to favour a “drawn game, ' with the honours lying on the side ot ; Japan, such a result according to their j views, being the surest way ol helping I forward thoir plans for the social and political reorganisation of Russia' and, * the establishment of a parliamentary ! form of Government under the regime ! of the Duma.

“Three Russians of great influence in this particular party were deputed to carry out negotiations, and a contract was entered into with representatives oi the Japanese Government. The contract was in Japanese! but each of the Russians received a resume of the contract' in more or less imperfect Englisli, this being the language agreed to between the parties.

“The contract, signed 1904 was to he kept secret till March 22nd, 1915, when it was to be be ‘fulfilled by the payment of 46,000,000 yen (£,600,000) to eaclr of throe Russians signing it, provided that Japan wo* 1 in the war. “Behind this contract,” says the narrator, “was the agreement, to provide Japan with the plans of the submarine minefields surrounding Port Arthur and Vladivostock. After this agreement. was signed Japan surprised the world by her astonishing victories and lost no: more ships at sea,‘"-while the climax came with the surrender of Port Arthur. PAYING THE JSILL. “Immediately after the signing of the Treaty of Portsmouth in the autumn of 1905, the Japanese authorities in Tokio handed-to one of the three Russians, a formal contract superseding the provisional contract signed in 1904 and all verbal understandings existing up to 1905. This contract provided for the ■payment of 40 per cent, of the iace value of three drafts for 46,000,000 yen (£4,600,000) each between March 22. and July 1, 1915, and the balance in 1916, and for postponement of the payment in the event of war between Japan and another country before 1915.” The contract was signed by Prince Yamagata, M. Sonye, the then Finance Minister of Japan, and M. Lapounoff, \vl>o ! surrendered Saghalien.

One instalment of 46,000,000 yen, according to the story, still remains due to tire three Russians who were a party to the contract.