The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-23

THE OUTLOOK GLOOMY
ference.
tBy the Associated Press.)

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 21.-The
to save the peace conference from
failure remains in suspense. No di-
rect reply to the Presidents PROPOSE
ton communicated by Mr. White yes
terday has come from Emperor
Nicholas tonight, but other advices
received from ST. Petersburg indicate
that the Emperor and his councillors
are mistaken in their determination
neither to cede territory nor pay war
tributes What the President is do
ing on the Japanese side remains as
deep a mystery as eyer Little light
is shed upon the visits Of Baron
Kaneko to Oyster Bay. The Japanese
do not e"en admit that he is their
medium of communication with the
President. They go no farther than
TO reterate that Mr.. Roosevelt under
stands their position and that they
have the fullest confidence in him.
They show not the slightest indication
that they have in any wise changed
their position or are prepared to yield
more than they We're last Friday when
the Observation-Disclosures adjourned until
tomorrow.
If Mr.. White does not receive fresh
instructions before three o'clock to-
ence is resumed, the situation will be
exactly what it was when the adjourn
ment was taken on Friday.
Both sides will present their pro-
tocols for signature. One side or the
other must then make a move or all
that will be left will be a brief final
protocol certifying that they have
reached the parting of the ways and
TO bid each other farewell. But such
an abrupt termination is hardly antici-
pated. Baron Komura, if Mr.. Witte
has nothing to propose, might present
Japan'S irreducible minimum embody-
final concessions she is pre-
make, if she is prepared to
my, or formally propose collec-
.I.- consideration of all the articles
4 dispute. Any move on either
SIDE would involve another adjourn
r-e or such an adjournment might
.e 'ankly proposed by Mr.. White as
ne would not be guilty of the dis
courtesy of allowing the conference to
go to pieces before receiving a specific
reply to President ROOseyelt's PROPOSE
ton.
Fighting for Time.
1t is safe to assume. therefore. that
in the absence of such a reply the con-
ference will Fbe prolonged beyond to-
morrow and every delay, in the opin-
hope, faint though it may be. Mr..
Roosevelt's object was officially de-
scribed today as being to "prolong the
negotiations"
There is warrant for the statement
that Mr.. White personally sympathiZes
with the Presidents proposition, no
matter how it may be regarded by his
imperial master and the latter's adj
visors. 1t is a mistake to suppose
that in considering such q proposition
the Emperor consults a regularly or
dained council. Throughout the con-
ference he has been calling in council,
saE advisors as he deemed wise some
is relatives, the grand dukes,
nbers of the court and certain
,sen ministers. The Grand uDka
,cholas Nicholaivitch one of the
most powerful of his relatives, is
known to be absolutely opposed to
yielding an iota beyond what Mr..
Witte has already conceded.
AS an alternative he favors the con-
tinuation of the war.
The spirit OF all the advices received
has been such as almost to preclude
hope Of an eleventh hour change. The
general belief here is that President
Roosevelt while he has the moral
support of one of the neutral powers
has not received the active aid he eX-
Dected.
England's declination to offer adj
vice to Japan is disappointing, though
the motives that actuate her in refuS-
ing to do anything that might be con-
strued as an attempt to exercise pres
sure upon her ally tending to rob her
of the fruits of her victory. are fully
appreciated.
There are evidences here that CO.