The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-08-16
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.
The Prospects Of an Agreement Seem to
be Very Remote.

The Prospects Of an Agreement seem to
be Very Remote.
PORTSMOUTH,, Aug. 1l.-Russia's
reply to the japanese terms of peace
will be delivered by NJ. Witte to
Baron Komura at $50 o'clock to.
morrow morning. The reply is writ.
ten, there being two texts-one in
French. the other in English. Upon
the crucial points, indemnity and the
cession of the island OF Sakh alin, the
reply is an absolute non possimus.
Other points are accepted as a basis
for discussion, while others are accept.
ed conditionally.
The reply Ia rather long because, in
enumerating the conditions on which
discussion is admitted and those on
which consideration Is declined, rea.
sons and arguments are given.
The Japanese p!enipotentiaries are
expected to ask for an immediate ad.
journment, to examine and prepare
their reply. NJ. Witte will probably
intimate that the Russian plenipoten-
tiaries expect the Japanese to display
as much expedition as they 1.-THE Rus.
SLAMS have shown in the preparation
of their response.
Monday. therefore, is expected to be
the day on which the real discussion
of the negotiations will begin. Neither
side wants to indulge in diplom attic
sparring. The time for fencing is
over and less than a week must decide
whether basis of peace is possible.
The tactics of the japanese are in
scruta BILE. They have shown through
out the war their ability to guard
their secrets, military, naval and dip
lomatic, and not the remotest clew
comes from behind their closed doors
as to whether they are prepared to
make substantial concessions. Silence
aud secrecy are their watchwords.
But ii the conditions as submitted
constitute their last word, hope OF
peace may be regarded as having dis.
appeared, If the feeling reelected in
Russian circles is a true criterion.
And that no substantial concessions
on the main issues will be made is the
belief, both in Russian and Japanese
circles.
PORTSMOUTH, Aug. l2.-There is a
rift in the clouds. The prospects Of a
successful issue of the "W ashington
conference" have frightened somewhat
as a result Of today's developments.
The discussion OF the terms submitted
by Japan has actually begun, but this
has been accomplished by postponing
the consideration of the two main Is.
sues, indemnity and the cession of
Sakhalin.
PORTSMOUTH, Aug. l3 No prog.
ress has been made with the peace ne.
gotiations over Sunday. They stand
exactly where they did last night. The
session of the plenipotentiar aries which
was to be held this afternoon was
postponed by mutual consent, out of
reverence of the holy Sabbath, which
is universally observed in Russia as
u day of rest
The Russians had not been anxious
for a session today and this morning
the japanese took the initiative, and
through the intermediary of Mr..
Pierce, it was decided to postpone the
sitting until tomorrow morning.
The situation therefore remains the
same.
1t would perhaps not be too much to
say that the general feeling is more
hopeful, in spite of open predictions,
made by personages connected with
both sides Of the negotiations, that
before next Sunday the plenipotenti.
aries will reach an impasse, where q
rupture will become inevitable. This
pessimistic view is based upon the
fact that, so far as known, the two big
barriers to an agreement-indemnity
and Sakhalin-remain as high and in.
surmountable as ever.
The real struggle is only postponed.
The main problems are no nearer solu.
ton than when the plenipotentiaries
met. The principal reason for optim.
ism lies in the fact that, confronted
with the absolute refusal of the Rus.
sian reply to admit the discussion of
either indemnity or the cession of the
island of Sakhalin, the Japanese pro.
posed to take up the consideration of
the conditions seriatim. From this it
Is assumed that the japanese are pre-
pared TO yield. or have reason to be.
lieve a way will be found to overcome
the objections of their advers aries
when the crucial test comes.
Increase in Fever Cases