Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-25
PRESIDENT SENDS
ENVOY TO WITTE'
MESSENGER FROM OYSTER BAY
CARRIES NOTE TO RUSSIANS
AT PORTSMOUTH.
SECRET CONFERENCE
HELD AT NAVY YARD
Delay in Receiving Word from st. Pc
tersburg Causes Postponement of
Session of Plenipotentiaries-Pro-
tocols Not Yet Ready.


Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 23.-Presi.
dent Roosevelt is energetically con.
tinuing his efforts to save the peace
conference from shipwreck The sen.
sation OF the day was mysterious
visit paid by Mr.. Witte and Baron
Rosen to the navy yard, where Mr..
Peirce delivered to them message in
writing from President Roosevelt
which had been brought from Oyster
Bay by confidential messenger named
McGaw. Then for about three hours
Mr.. Wttte and Baron de Rosen re-
manned at the yard and it is believed
were in direct or indirect communica-
ton with the president After their
return to the hotel they absolutely de-
clined to make any statement. It is
assumed the presidents message was
the result of Baron Kaneko's visit to
Oyster Bay Monday.
Mr.. McGaw, the presidents special
messenger, took the 3:O5 train from
Portsmouth to Oyster Bay. Mr.. Nc
Cav was absolutely noncommittal as
to his errapd, and also declined to say
whether he bore message from the
Russian envoy,to the president.
Cars Delay Blocks Meeting.
The meeting of the peace plenipo-
tentiaries which was to have been
held Tuesday afternoon was postponed
until Wednesday morning at $3.50.
The official reason assigned for this
phanra Of nrnUro y,,y,,o uyoc +Iro+ 49,
secretaries had not yet completed the
work OF drafting the protocols for sub
mission for the signatures of the
plenipotentiaries. This is true, but
there is a more potent reason. Mr..
Witte has not yet received final word
from st. Petersburg. It was expected
Tuesday morning. 1t did not come,
and therefore, with Mr.. Whites au.
thorization, Mr.. Placon, who was hard
at work upon the Russian protocol,
went to Mr.. Sato, the Japanese Sec
rotary. and suggested the postpone.
ment. Baron Komura approved and
the announcement was issued.
Situation at Present.
AS the situation now stands Mr..
Witte could not if he would cede or
compromise on either article five (Sak-
halin) or article nine Indemnity.
The instructions given him by the
emperor before he left st. Petersburg
precluded the possibility Of either, and
1t can be stated that up to the present
hour every message he has received
indirectly or directly from his en-
peror shows no sign of any change of
mind. And from the private advices
the advisers whom the emperor is
consulting seem practically unanimous
in support Of the view that further
concessions are inconsistent with Rus.
sia's dignity and honor" and that
unless Japan is prepared to yield some.
thing substantial-not upon articles
ten or eleven, but upon articles five
and nine-it is better to continue the
war.
May Take Presidents Advice
Although it seems to be hoping
against hope, there Is still possibili-
ty that the emperor will take Presi-
dent Roosevelt's advice and take the
only step which, the president thinks,
can save the conference from ship
wreck The presidents suggestion is
not general and vague, but quite con-
crete. II it is finally rejected it is
said not to involve specific answer,
but Mr.. White is anxious that the
emperor shall have full time to de-
liberate and the Japanese have no de-
sire to force the ISSUE They will well
come few days delay If the delay
keeps the door to peace open.
There is a strong intimation that the
Japanese are prepared to make prop
osition when the conference reassem-
bles. But there is nothing to indi-
cate that they are prepared to recede
ON either articles five or nine. Arti-
cles ten and eleven they might forego,
but that would hardly bring peace
nearer. Five and nine remain now, as
at the beginning, the seemingly insur-
mountable obstacles to peace
Article ten of Japan's demands pro-
vides that the Russian warships in
termed in neutral ports shall be turned
over to Japan. Article eleven calls for
the limitation of Russia's naval power
in the far east.
Council Favors Peace.
Paris. Aug. 23.-The ST. Petersburg
correspondent of the Temps contra.
diets the reports sent to the London
Times and the Berlin Lokal Anzieger
to the effect that at council held at
Peterhof 1t was decided not to make
further peace concessions. He says
that the council. on the contrary, pro-
pounced by small majority for the
conclusion Of peace and that the en-
peror has ordered the Russian dele
gates to make new proposition rela-
tive to indemnity. The correspondent
adds that tho Russian delegates have
received the kilograms from the gem
erals in the field urging against the
conclusion CT an unfavorshle peace,
as the army feels sure OF victory
Explorer Arrives Mt Full
Hull, England. Aug. 90 - Anthony
Fiala, of Brooklyn, ". Y, leader of the
Ziegler polar expedition, the members OF
which We're rescued ty the relief ship
Terra Nova, under the command of Will.
liam S. Champ, secretary of the late VIII.
liam Ziegler, arrived here Tuesday on
his way to the United States. He came
ahead Of the Terra Nova, which is ex-
pected Wednesday,
Fireman Scalded to Death.
Chicago, Aug. 23.-Frederick Hof-
saes, 382 Clybourn avenue, fireman
W.