Not The Best Negotiating Tactic

Japan and Russia continue to disagree - as they have since WWII - over the Kurin Islands:

Japan on Friday held firm to its demand that Russia return all four disputed Pacific islands seized in 1945 after President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was only prepared to return two of them.

“Japan is perplexed as to why (Russia) does not return the four islands,” Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi told reporters.

Dear Mr. Koizumi, I have reviewed the historical records of the world. There is no indication of any instance where being "perplexed" actually won back physical territory, as in "Did I perplex you, my negotiating partner? My humblest apologies. Please, take back your land!"