QUAINT VIEW OF THE MUJIK.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 206, 29 August 1905, Page 5

QUAINT VIEW OF THE MUJIK.

j CANNOT LOSE AND PAY. investigation of the peasant ; 'Tinion in various parts of the country : has been made in the last fortnight. i this counts for little, except that it iInteresting. The hmorant Mu : ik says: "Yes, the war should be stopped. Japan | should pay us to make peace, because I -he has been successful so far. We can- | not both lose and pay.'' When it is >ugrested that Japan would demand pay nent of her war expenses, the peasant; ! unanimously repudiate the idea, and dej :-'.are the war should continue until Rus- ! ia gains eventual success. ' According to historic precedence, this I may seem merely ludicrous, but if rej presents the idess of the Russian massps. I If, therefore, the Cz.ar reject? th** dej -nands of the Japanese for indemni'v he | will have the country really behind him 1 for the first time in prosecuting 1 the war. It should be understood hat there is no anti Tnpanese party at , present in Russia. The idea that Witte may induce Japan to m.n'-e a fri*»ndlv alliance en liberal terms, but without iniemnity. appeal- strorgly to a certain -vetion here, v.-'io see in the suggesfion he only possibility of peace.