Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-14
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Details Not Given Out, But Both Ses-
sions Sari to Be Friendly.

Portsmouth, n. H.. Aug. 12.-Therc is "A
rift in the clouds. The prospects of IL
issue of the ''WaShngton con-
ference" have frightened somewhat as Il
result of today's developments. The dis
cussiOn of the terms submitted by Japan
has actually begun but this has been ac
complished by postponinS the consdcra-
ton of the two main isSucS-indemnity
and the ccssion of Sakhalin. So far as
asccrtainable the Japanese were respon-
sible for the tactics by which this hope
full stage was entered upon. AS the man
tie of secrecy has been thrown around the
proceedings by mutual pledges not to di-
vulgc what happened within the council
chamber there are missing links in the
chain of evidence and it is impossible to
judge whether this signifies Il back-down
ON either side on the main points.
On the face of things both sides are
still as uncompromising as ever upon the
two issues, the struggle over them being
me rely postponed. Some sort of private
understanding arrived ut by Baron ko-
mur;t and NJ. Wtte during the recess at
the navy yard, today, is hinted as but
there is not tie slightest confirmation OBJ
tainible. No evidence of a change OF the
uncumpromising attitude on the paft OF
NJ Witte or-Baron Roscn regarding the
main points is observable. nevertheless
the Japanese Nevertheless the Japanese
who are attached to the Nippon filSSloit
plainly manifest elation ana some OF tHcih
nrivltely assert that Nj. Wltte Wouiu lieV
,r have consented to the discussion or
terms had he not been prepared 10 !leid
on the question of Sakhailn.
All this appears yet to De farSeiS sur
mise and deduction but certainly the cur
tain oil mystery which has new been fi'iis
down might easily conceal important ma
neuverirg from the public gaze. Ihe nus
sian reply with its non-posSimus rs 10 III,
dcmnity and Sakhalin had been presented
in the. morning. Yet i'll spite OF TINS iac,,
ut o'clock the plCninotcntiarieS met ana
after agreeing to discuss the cOndltlohS
scriatim. entered upon tue consiucra1IIlii srl,i
OF the first of the Japanese terms IN"
rropOSitiOn to discuss the ConditloiS III
this way is believed to have enahatSu
from the japanese side. The hrSt conul.
tiou WAS of secondary impor:ance-onc oi
thos,. which Russia had accepted as con-
ditionalIy acceptable as Il basis OF discus
Sion-yet little progress was madr. our
hours were spent in debating u pul ~ ~
conclusion was reached. AS there are Il
conditions and this one is OF minor I'M
portnnce the outlook is gloomy. Inc
plrnipotcntiarics. 1T Q CLOCK, aGy"ui ~
until tomorrow afternoon 1T ). Ihc Jap-
|
morning. but NJ. Witt" would not agree
to this rs it WAS Sunday. -
Both todays sessions are deScilp'u a
"frirndly' but no details are dINuiScd'
NJ Wittc however makes no cnl'cai-
meut of the fact that the rigid secrecy
whi; II the Japanese insisted upon linp"s-
ing upon the proceedings is dlstastciu III Z"
him With much carn"StncsS ne SPOKE
tonight to The Associated Press c"rFc-
spnndcnt upon the subject. At the tim"
he was liborinE under considerable cN
citcrnent because Of the pubIsned aSSci
tinu which had been called to ms htt"h-
tion that he had pleaded for an arms
lice For tho dignity of RUSSIA ana Tn
rri,I, of his country. he asked That M
absolute denial should be given to the
report. A., .,.,
cy Of the proceedings he said that he I'M
dprstood neither tn" Japanese desire L"
conceal what WIS occurring nor c"llIn w.
appreciate the logic Of the arguments
they adduccd III support Of 1t.
I'VE desire said he that ev"rNthin@
pertaining to th" conference Sh"'lld ="
done in the daylight. Russia is rcHdE 10
la. iudccd by the whole world. "" hay"
nothing to conceal and nothing to fear;
BEFORE the conference began all sorts ~
reports and miSStat"mcnts tmhhatrd
from the other side. Now that the world
needs enlightenment. now that the mo
mcnt has come to fac" the supren" trl-
h,inaI of public opinion, we are nor per
mitted to plhc" before the World ~" "Ni-
dencp in our possession, from "h"H 81
inst verdict could he returned as 10 IN"
isSII" between the bclligerents. the Rus
sian plenipotcntiari"s stand ready 70 pun
liSh the text Of th" Japanese conditions
the full reply Of Russia presented. thus
morning. tn" diplomatic notes that nay"
been exchanged and the minutes oi thr
sittings. The issue now being tried ~
Portsmouth is ntI only questloh OF
Peace or var between Russia ana Japan.
hut one which might produce. /" general
nhlgration involving the shedding OF
blood in many countries
Many of the observers at the Went
worth tonight recalled the fact that all
the statements cmanating from Japh mes"
sources before the conference declared
that Japan before cOnSentng to take up
the detailed discussion Of the conditions
upon the bases. 1t was asserted with
great pusitivcncSs that Japan would ncv-
er consent to discuss the terms Seriatim
until such an agreement had been reach
ed. From this many argue that Japan ~
prepared to yield Others believe. on the
contrary. that Il private assurance has
been given Baron Komura outside tn"
conference chamber that Russia would
discuss all the bases proposed.
NJ. Wittc has arranged to attend relig-
ious services. tomorrow morning
This evening. he remarked. lauShingly:
Il am not a japanese"
He added: Il did not want a session Of
the conference, tomorrow morning. ] am
a good Christian and desire to attend ser
vice on the Sabbath. As there is no Or
thodox church here l shall go to the
Protestant church"
It is believed that the condition discuss
ed at today's meeting was the question
of the evacuation of Manchuria and the
transfer of the Russian leases To Japan.
Baron [omura and Mr. Takahira dined.
tonight at Assistant Secretary Peirces
and did not return to the hotel until II
o'clock NJ. Wftte. after dinner. saw seV-
craI people and Mt 10 o'clock told the man
stationed ut the door that rs he had Set--
cral hours work before him no further
cards should he brought in. He sent for
Mr.. Shpoff and Mr.. Pokotiloff and the