JAPAN'S DIPLOMACY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81871, 22 October 1906, Page 2

JAPAN'S DIPLOMACY.

Ax interesting light has been thrown on the Ru=sso-Jupene»e peace negotiations of August', 1905, by the Tokio correspondent of ihe Times. It will be remembered thai Japan began by demanding from an indemnily of about j qoo, the surrender of the interned ships/the limitation of Russian naval forces in the Far East, the cession of Sakahlin, the evacuation of Manchuria, and the recognition of Japan's paramount influence in Korea. After prouaeied negotiations, which at time* threatened to reach a deadlock, Russia agreed to the conditions regarding Manchuria and Korea, and aUo t<j the cession of the southern pari of the island of Sakahlin. The Japanese envUy,it was taken asgranlcd throughout tho world, had been worsted after a gallant fight. In Japan feeling ran high against this back-down after a victorious campaign, and in the minds of his countrymen Baron Kopiura'* name i« still associated with an idea : «>f inglorious stcriluT. It staled by a. well-informed "Times' r ! that neither the Japan-! eie .Mini^!rv nor Jiamn Komura at : any line- before o t - afier the negicjaexpieied one whit more tlian was obtained. Throughout tn'ey TO cognised that after a puiely colonial' war in' Manchuria, which had not crippled Russia jn any vital part, they weje not in a position i<> dictate to her. They had mad'-' war tor two definite purposes—the evacuation °l Manchuria, and tin; recognition of Japan's predominating position in Kuiea. Ji was altogether against Japan'* interest* to continue lighting afier these two obieci> had been attained. Therefore when Baron Komura left Japan he was provided with a li-t <»f demands in whic'i t\vo were set down as ab s o!mely essential. The term* might be pietor'led in any ohl<t (hat seemed best, but tin-" was ahe cardinal demotion ; i be made in the -.juj. Neither the Jiipenesc people, the world ai large, nor least of all Count Wife, the Ru v--ian envoy, had any idea of this ar rangcment. Haron Komut a laid chi»'f sirens on the non-essential conditions. so thai Count- Witt'* had the t'xuhalion of seeing- tiisi one demand and Mien another being' drop])ed. In ihe end men- obtained for Japan than would have satisfied her Sovereign or her state-men. It would rf coitr>e have been , much more dignified to have started with an irreducible- niininufm from which not a jot would be abated; but the world dip'omaiii.. til" Times remarks, has not yet grown up to that kind of diplomacy