The Washington times., 1905-08-03
JAPAN'S DEMAND
SEVEN HUNDRED
MILLION DOLL -A!.RIS
SO Indicated by Saito,
Who Is Mouthpiece
of japanese.
NJ. WITTE IN AUTOMOBILE
Discreet Silence Maintained
by Both Sides as to Par
tlcuIar Features.

lAA III al al III -
NEW YORK. Aug. s.-Russian dipIo-
macy got in It's fine work today BY keep
| ing a silent tongue.
| At the St Regis Hotel. where M.
Wttte. the senior Russian peace pleni-
potentiary. and his suite are installed.
the strictest silence was observed by
| the entire Russian delegation. II. Witte
| had nothing TO say 10 supplement the
staten ent which he gave to the press
upon mis- arrfvel here yesterday.
At the japanese Headquarters at tbs
Waldorf-Astoria il is likewise notice
able that the japanese representatives
had little to say regarding the negotia-
tions which are soon TO open at Ports
mouth IN fact, it was quiet day SO
far as history-making is concerned.
The unwillingness OF the peace COM
missioners to talk was not regarded
as being significant, however, but as
the natural course for them 70 pursue.
Diplomatic Usage.
Since the, representatives OF the two
beIiigerent powers are actually in the
same city 1t was regarded as only nat
ural that diplomatic methods should be
resorted to. and that both sides should
desire 20 remain silent until they actual
~ get together to begin the conference
which it is hoped viii end in the sign
ing Of . treaty OF peace.
NJ. Witte did not remain long at the
St. Regis this morning Accompanied
BY one of the secretaries of the Russian
delegation he started fer an automobile
ride about the city at 10 O'Clock.
They went unattended, n Witte ex-
pressing his unwillingncss TO have any
special attention paid TO him. Even the
offer Of the services of central Office
cIined.
Leaving the hotel. the Russian com
missioner was taken for spin up
fifth avenue, through Central Park,
and out along Riverside drive.
On Wall Street.
Returning. n Witte was taken down
town, and visited the stock exchange,
where he has several friends. This visit
Of the Russian plenipotentiary to Wall
Street gave rise to Icmors that n.
Witte was losing no time in attempting
70 make arrangements Tor an American
loan to Russia, which reports have said
would probably form a part of his mis-
sion to America. Confirmation of the
rumors could not be secured however.
Both before starting for his ride and
on his return TO the hotel. NJ. Witte de-
olined to be interviewed by the newspa-
Ter representatives. His action guided
the other members Of his party, and no
information was forthcoming from the
Russian headquarters.
Assistant Secretary of State Peirce.
who viii have charge OF the arrange
ments for bringing the peace plenfpoten-
taries together a. Oyster Bay and a
Portsmouth, where the conferences Will
be held. arrived here from Portsmouth
today. 10 confer with the Russian and
japanese representatives IN regard 10
these plans
Mr. Peirce will communicate the ar
rangements to Baron Homura and 81.
Witte and the two delegations WIn 20
TO Oyster Bay on Saturday, where they
viii meet with President Roosevelt.
To See President
NJ Witte viii go tomorrow to Oyster
Bay to pay an unofficial call upon the
President and has the respects of the
Gar to this nations Executive, at whose
instigation the peace meeting was
brought about.
Mr.. Saito. who. as the official mouth
piece of the japanese delegation, now in
the city has done the talking for Baron
hOmura. this morning. expressed him
self as being pleased with the statement
given out by NJ. Witte upon his arrival
yesterday. He declared that ne believes
NJ Witte has come to she conference
clothed with full powers rs a pienipo-
tentiary. and authorized to sign a peace
treaty. and added that he believed leace
terms would be agreed upon
VI. Saito gave some idea of the
amount Of indemnity which il Is expect
cd Japan viii demand of Russia, and he
said yesterday that he had knowledge
Of the terms which Baron Komura win
lay BEFORE the Russian peace commits
sioners.
Cost SI,ooo,ooo Daily.
The cost of the war to Japan. Mr.
Saito said. has been about 2r09000J yen.
or $1.OoJ00o, day
I'VE have Seen fighting about $40
days" he added. significantly 1T is
the general custom to ask d little more
in demanding indemnity than the cost
Of a war"
Using the figures and statement Of Mr..
Saito as q basis for figuring. il is eSti-
mated that the japanese demand will be
for between S6oG0e0, 600 and ST00, GOo 900.
The cost of the war IN The 500 DAYS
lighting mast have been 1.u9d, 400 $50 yen,
or S500,0J0.090 With the 'littie more"
which Mr.. Saito says it is customary
for nation tn demand. II is figured ont
that the Japanese demand viii come -
the figures named,
Beyond the statement referred TO. Mr..
SaJO declined to talk more about peace
negotiations. He said he knows nothing
of the arrangements for bringing the
peace commissioners together. and was
waiting TO hear from Assistant SecS6~
tary Peirce nthat subject.
Wicte's Arrival
His EXcenency Sergius Witte. senior
Russian envoy in the peace negotiations
with Japan arrived in New York yes
terday afternoon on the Kaiser Wilhelm
der Crosse
Speaking personally aud not as the
official representative of the Car, NJ.
Witte expressed the opinion sent from
the ship by wLr2lesz~ telegraph late Tues