The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-29


in these dispatches last night there was
no rupture in the peace negotiations to-
day. Peace is by no means assured.
but an Important crisis has been tided
over, and the fact that the life that the
conference mas been prolonged into
next week, adds materially to the
chances of fav orable issue
According to the Russian version 1t
was Japan and not Russia which
weakened this afternoon. M. Witte
publicly announced after the sitting
that it was Baron Komura who askel
for an adjournment until Monday IN o.
der to have time to submit new prop
ositiOn. Yet 1t is known that NJ. Witte
has received instructions sent after tie,
Presidents lntercession at Peternof,
through ambassador Meyer, to agree TO
the division of SaKhalin and to per-
nit liberal compensation for the Rus
sian prisoners Of war, and the cession
Of the Chinese eastern railroad, but
to continue absolutely to refuse to pay
war tribute under any guise.
This is described as Kussia's 'ulti-
matum, leaving the same old question
of money the stumbling block to an
agreement.
In the regular course of procedure
after the presentation of the japanese
compromise proposition on Wednes-
day the diplomatic move passed to Rus
sia and it was NJ. Witte's turn natur
ally to present the counter PROPOSE
ton of his government. If he succeed
ed as intimated in Withholding his
card, and forcing the Japanese to play
again he undoubtedly gained a point
in the game. But no adequate account
Of the proceedings at tOdays meeting
is forthcoming The plenipOtentiaries
by agreement excluded the secretaries.
There were no minutes. There is no
record This in itself is extremely
significant When men who are fight
Tug 8 desperate battle lock themselves
in a room alone, it is the evidence that
they are terribly in earnest. 1t is Il
hopeful sign. All that is formally an
nOunced is that the minutes Of the las
session were approved, and upon Baron
KOmura's notion, the conference al
journed until Monday at o'clock. Bat
whether or not the counter proposition
Of Russia was submitted at this after
Moons session it seems to be up to ia
pam to formally renOunce her demand
for the ''fraiS de guerre, and try TO
obtain a partial recOmpense in an
other way, for instance, by bona flde
sale of the northern half OF SakallD.
Emperor Nicholas response TO MT.
Meyer and his instructions to NJ. Nitte
are remarked as his last word, so far as
Indemnity is Concerned. Compromls':
by when Japan can secure compare
lively moderate sum Of money is still
open.
But the gulf to be spanned is still
wide between the two adversar'es.
Russia is now willing to divide Sakhal-
in. Japan, on Wednesday, claimed the
entire island by right of occupation, st
fering only to sell back the northern
half DIT the price of the "cost OF the
war" And it should be borne in mind
that the elimination of Articles 10 and
IL, Surrender of Russia's interned
warships and Limitation of Russia's Sea
power was conditional upon her accep'
tance of this proposition. Baron Ko-
mura and Mr.. Takahira want time TO
consult their government before agrea-
ing to yield further The most compe-
tent Japanese authority said:
THE question of peace or war sill
hangs in the balance"
For the first time there appears to
be some dissension in the Japanese
camp as to the advisability of making
another conciliatory step. Many OF the
attaches are strongly of the version
that they should not recede another
inch The most prominent of them
said tonight to the Associated Press:
1--WE only offered one half of Sakalin
upon condition that we should receive
for it the price We fixed The islaEd
is ours by right of conquest. If Rus
sia imagines we will give it up 1ol
nothing she is much mistaken. ON
answer should be Come and take it.
The main hoIe of peace rests as be-