Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-15
.Y.M. G. A. Building, Cor. 10th and Douglas.

"spoils Of war" Japan's bill for the cost
Of tho war
Tho only reason why the cession Of SAX
kalin might precede the bill for the cost OF
the wal is the fact that Japan has always
for that the Island belonged to it by right
Of discovery and conquest and that IT had
been compelled when too weak to defend
IT, nights TO yield to its adversary
Absence of FormaIity.
Preparation for luncheon was begun at
the naval stores building shortly before
noon, indicating that the session OF the
peace conference will continue in the aft
ernoon. There is an entire absence Of for
mantv in partaking Of refreshments in the
lunch room. which is across the hall from
the general conference room. The pleni-
potentiaries have several times sat down
together at the lunch table while the
members of the Russian and Japanese
suites have mingled freely on those occa-
sions Secretary Peirce joins the lunch
party also as does his assistants In the
quarters which the United States govern
ment is maintaining in the naval stores
building.
It was the original intention that sep
arate lunch rooms should be provided, one
for the Japanese and one for the Russians
but from the first the ENJOYS have eaten
together at their noon meal.
Many Letters Received.
The peace plenipotentiaries have been
fairly deluged with mail from all parts Of
the United States and now letters are be-
ginning to arrive from the other hemis-
phere. Hundreds of letters reach them
! each day. They are of every description
friendly tenders of advice regarding the
negotiations, requests for autographs and
photographs, words of welcome, of praise,
advertisements and invitations to various
( cities of the United States. The majority,
so for as the negotiationh are concerned,
| only express the hopes of the world for
| peace. Numerous are the letters from
pastors of churches telling of prayers for
peace. Then there are the usual crank
letters. No threat of a serious nature has
been received either by Baron Komura or
NJ. Witte.
While at the hotel Baron Rosen is the
only one OF the plenipotentiaries who
minges freely with the hotel guests, al
though he knows few of them The ambas-
sador selects cool corner on the veranda
tas soon as the newspapers come in and un-
less there is some official business to attend
| to-, he sits there by the hour, carefully
scanning the papers and marking here
and there a paragraph which attracts his
| attention. Baron Rosen is especially inter.
ested in the editorials.
No Battle During Negotiations.
1t seems to be taken for granted among
the attaches of both the japanese and Rus.
sian missions that there will be no general
battle in Manchuria while the peace nego.
tiations are on. Oyama is known TO be
prepared to strike the moment the negotia.
tions end and there may be more or less
skirmlshing and outpost engagements while
the troops are getting in position, but it il
admitted on each side that II either Oyama
| or Linevitch should deliberately bring on
general engagement which might cost 5000
or 10000 lives his country would be accused
of bad faith in the negotiations here and
| would inevitably lose prestige in the eye.
of the world. In the larger sense, there
fore, it can be said that an armistc,
already exists in Manchuria. Should tn,
negotiations be vainly prolonged and 1
became evident that they were to be fruit
less the advance of Oyama or Linevitcl
might be the signal for the final rupture
Russia Expects Japan to ReceEe.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 14.ZThe AS
sociated Press is in a position to declar
that practically the only hope entertaine,
in high Russian official quarters for
peace agreement at the conference a
Portsmouth lies in the expectation tina
Japan will recede materially from he
terms as published Official and publ
sentiment regarding the possibilities o
peace, outlined to the Associated Pres
, by an official who has constant and clos
relations with the highest authorities. is a
, follows:
! That the terms are regarded in their en-
/ / az ia Inn. la - .faVa
, and close scrutiny has not removed tn
very untaVOrable impression their firs
not m9difed especIsIiv- in the - msttsrs a.
fndempity and territorial concession
peace, Il is thought Is impossible, an
I Russia is honestly and sincerely desirOu
. ! Of securing an honorable and lasting peaC
{ and 20 this end has sent her penipotentia
thither merely to learn the Japanese dt
mands-the nature of their credentia
[ endeavor to do everything to terminal
a the war possible for a great nation.
The japanese terms are regarded in Ru
sia as demands which might be made upo
n an utterly crushed and powerless enem
j. but II Is absurd to propose them TO
a power like Russia, which has 10000 me
: In the field facing the enemy. This arm
o Is in good condition and eager for acto
II possesses many advantages Of positic
A and the winter Is coming on when nav
= operations would be impossible. Vladivo
II tok also is splendidly fortified and SUI
, large, has persistentiy underestimate
. Russia's strength in the field and hi
- financial resources at home.
& The more hopeful feeling which is notic
S able here can be traced 10 the convtcuC
q that NJ Witte, who is thoroughly cognizal
= OF the views OF the Russian governmen
j would not continue negotiations at Port
. mouth unless he had reason 10 BELLE
that Japan would reduce its demands su
> fcently to render them acceptable TO Ru
sia The Russian envoys went 10 Port
mouth ready 10 make reasonable and hol
| orable concessions and II peace Is TO r
suit from the negotiations on Americs
| soil Japan must also show an equal spin
OF reasona bleness and sincerity in her pr
| testations for peace Russia believes tn