The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-11

OOnflnueu IEOHA "1S OS'
 have prepared their diplomatic cam paign here ,- ...auo ,, the dark. They could only wait ana watch for the decisive moment 10 ar rive. It Is known, however, that they went to the meeting this morning strongly inclined to believe that for some reason their adversaries would mot reveal their position today.
 Although intimations have been thrown out from Japanese sources that when the time arrived they would lay down their terms and practically an nounce that MT. Witte must take or reject them as basis and that the issue would practically be decided at the first clash, the Associated Press had the strongest reason to believe that no such summary tactics would De pursuei While 1t Is undoubtedly to the advantage of the Japanese plenipo- tentiaries tc reduce the chances for diplomatic sparring over the basis Of the negotiations to the nearest possible limits, there will still be some room fer give and take.
 Japan presented her maximum. hut she also has irreducible minimum, and in the first real passage at arme, 1t was the aim of the Russian negotiators to force the adversary back to Ter last line of defense. Just how thi was to be accomplished constituted t. e inter- esting tactics of the conference. It was regarded as certain that the Japanese would ask the Russians to accept or decline the basis of negotiations as whole. To allow them to proceed by process of elimination would give the Russians il big advantage and inevita- bly prolong the period during which the main question as to whether basis Of ha ad remain in doubt.
 An Early Reply. .=.:...
 While no time limit was fixed. M . Witte will doubtless give his reply within a few hours, as upon the main issue. What Nj. Wits will decline to accept the conditions as a whole may be regarded as a foregone conclusion, and in his reply he expects to point out clearly what points he can and what points he cannot accept It will be the Japanese rejoinder to this reply which will presumably determine the fate of negotiations Japan will then come forward with her minimum, and if Rus sia rejects 1t, the Washington con ference" will have ended in failure
 Two passages and the issue will be decided This Is understood to be the determination of the Japanese pleni- potentiaries. M. Witte has said he ex- pected the issue to be decided in a week. With basis agreed to, the chance for sparring over details will increase. Every facility has been placed at the disposal of each mission for private consideration of every point.
 Under President Roosevelts direc- tion. everything is being done to see that the deliberations of the plenipo- tentiaries are not disturbed and that negotiations take place "exclusively" between the belligerents. Secretary Peirce, while making daily reports to the President is conf1ning himself to looking after the comfort and enter tainment of the nations distinguished guests, avoiding scrupulously any ac- tion which might be interpreted as desire on the part of the United States to influence the negotiations.
 A clear sky and cool breeze ushered in, the day. The weather has not been excessively hot since the arrival of the pIenipotentiaries, although in the mid dle of the day in the navy yard there has been a reminder of the summer season. M Witte has remarked sev- eral times on the warmth. which seems to affect him somewhat unpleasantly
 The hotel guests. as has already be-