Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-28
THE CARS LIMIT.
Would Pay $5O,Ooo,ooo For Care of Russian Prisoners.
AND OFFERS HALF OF SAKHALIN.
These Proposals Said to Be His Ulti- matum = Peace Conference Post
 poned Until Tomorrow-Await
 Word From Tokyo. .

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 2S.- Half of Sakhalin and S50,000,00O are the most that Russia will consent to concede. The president has so far fail ed entirely to sway the czar from his original determination.
 The last session of the conference was barren. But for Baron Komura it would have ended the negotiations. M. Witte and Baron Rosen were ready to terminate the conference then and there, but Baron Komura asked for another sitting and one will be held to- morrow.
 At Tuesdays session Japan will sub- init modified terms, but the under standing is that these terms merely involve a reduction of the amount of the indemnity. The Russians absolute ly refuse to pay any of Japan's ex- penses. The 10O,OO0.000 rubles which they are willing to concede represents Japan's expenses ill taking care of the Russian prisoners. or at least Russia is ready to allow this sum under that head. As the war has cost Japan some s9OO,o00,00o, this payment could not possibly be regarded as an indemnity.
 The Japanese apparently are not yet convinced that Russia will not ulu- mately surrender on the indemnity question and wish to try again. -.
 The Russians have always recognized the necessity of paying Japan for the care of the prisoners. to which, in fact, they are bound hy The Hague conven- tion. Neither on this point nor on any other have they changed an iota, ex- cept in their willingness to cede half of Sakhalin. -.. The life of the peace conference seems to hang by q thread but the thread will not be broken today. Aft CT a two hours conference last night between Mr. Takahira and M Witte in the latter's room in the hotel arl- mex the announcement of the post | ponement was made. NJ. Witte ex- plained that Mir. Takahira had told him that no new instructions had reached him from Tokyo. and, fearing none might be received before the meeting today, he had suggested the propriety of postponing the meeting un- til tomorrow. To this NJ. Witte said he had readily assented. Mr. Takahira made the following statement: ''1nas- | much as this conference was initiated by the friendly offices of your presi- dent after consultation we felt that we should be cautious about terminating l it's labors." Pressed as 10 whether he regarded the situation as hopeless, Mir. i Takahira said. "No. not hopeless. but l almost hopeless.' This in itself from one who has spoken always in the most guarded fashion is sufficient to show the desperateness of the situa- ton. The real crisis in the negotia. tions is at hand. Ii is very acute, but j If it can be tided over for a few days 1 without a rupture basis of peace ac- ! ceptable to both sides may come very suddenly. But to save the situation now Japan must speak. If tomorrow 1 she has nothing to offer all is over. NJ. witte, even if he would, is power i less to make new step. His hands are tied. He now occupies the role of an imperial messenger who transmits his masters orders to Baron Komura
 and Baron Komura turns them over to
 Tokyo for the response.