The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-08-15
WILMINGTON N c.. AUGUST 10 1905

she could neither agree to foot Japan's
bill for war expenses nor cede terri
tory. The argument can be fairly stat
ed as follows:
Russia Is not yanquished. She has
suffered reyerses, but she is not OBJ
Hged TO accept peace at any cost She
desires peace now as she always has,
even before Japan opened hostiIities
Inat Russia did not court or want war
was evident by the fact that she was
not prepared for it either in q military
naval or administrative sense. Russia
could possibly be properly accused of
only one thing-of having given the
occasion which Japan was seeking, and
for which Japan had been preparing
for ten years, to make war upon her.
The responsibility for the war, there
fore, falls upon Japan and not upon
Russia
1t can be said, however, that al
though firm on the main points, ii.
Whites reply is exceedingly courteous
in form and tone and leaves the way
open to discussion and negotiation if
the Japanese are willing.
Many of the observers at the Went
worth tonight recalled the fact that all
the statements emanating from Japan
csc sources before the conference de-
clared that Japan. before consenting to
take up the detailed discussion of the
conditions, would insist upon d general
agreement upon the basis. 1t was as
serted with great positiveness that ia
pan would never consent to discuss the
terms seriatim until such an agreement
had been reached. From this many
iS,, rn6 tN inI6
Others believe, OH the contrary, that
a private assurance has been given
E;iron Komura outside the conference
chamber that Russia would discuss all
the basis is proposed.
NJ. Witte has arranged to attend re-
ligious services tomorrow morning.
This evening he remarked lauShlngly:
I'm not Japanese" He added: Il
did not want a session of the confer
ence tomorrow morning. | am good
Christian and desire to attend service
on the Sabbath. AS there is no Or
thodox church here, shall go to the
Protestant church.
It is believed that the condition dis
cussed at tOday's meeting was the
question of the evacuation Of Manchu-
ria and the transfer of the Russian
leases to Japan.
Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira
dined tonight at Assistant Secretary
Pierce's. and did not return to the no.
tel until II o'clock. NJ. Witte, after
dinner, saw a number of people, and
at 10 o'clock told the men stationed at
the door that rs he had several hours
work before him, no further cards
should be brought in. He sent for
Mr.. Shipoff and Mr.. Pokotiloff, and
the lights were still burning at mid
night.
THE OFFICIAL STATEMENT.
Portsmouth, y. H, August 12.-The
official statement regarding this morn
ings session was given out by Mr..
Sato at 11:15, accompanying 1t with
the explanation that it was an Official
statement to which both sides agreed
1t is as follows:
'.In the sitting of Saturday, August
the twelfth, their eXcellencleS, the
plenipOtentiarieS of Russia, have hand
ed their reply in writing to note pre-
sented to them on Thursday by the
plenipOtentiaries of Japan. 1t has been
decided that the next meeting Will take
place after the japanese plenipOtentla-
ries have examined and studied the re-
ply received, which will be at three
o'clock this afternoon Or tomorrow at
the same hour"
OYAMA READY TO ATTACK LINE
WITCH.
Portsmouth, \. H., August 12.-So
pessimistic was the feeling among
those in the confidence of both sides
early today that the prediction was
made to the Associated Press corre-
spondent that, if a meeting should be
held this afternoon, it might be the
last and that the history of the Wash
ington Conference would be abruptly
concluded today. If the negotiations
are broken off, Oyama Will Immediate
ly give battle to Linevitch. The Asso-
ciated Press learns from an unlm-
Ceachable source that Oyama's plans
are perfected, his armies are ready and
only await the signal that a rupture has
occurred to launch an attack.