Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-08-31

IOIUSmOuUu, ~. H., aug. So.-1 u0I0
is persistent report that President
Roosevelt has made a new appeal to
the emperor of Japan.
The life of the peace conference
seems to hang by thread, but the
thread will not be broken today.
At 10 o'clock last night, after con-
ference lasting three-quarters of an
hour between Mr.. Takahira and Mr..
Witte in the latter's room at the hotel
annex, the announcement of post
ponement was made.
M. Witte explained to the Associated
Press that Mr.. Takabira had told him
that no new instructions had reached
him from Tokyo, and, fearing none
might be received here before the
meeting scheduled for this afternoon,
he had suggested the propriety of post
poning the meeting until Tuesday. To
this M. Witte had readily assented.
Mr.. Takahira made the following
statement to the Associated Press:
"Inasmuch as this conference was
initiated by the friendly Office Of your
president, after consultation we felt
that we should be cautious about ter
minating its labors."
ReaI Crisis at Hand.
The real crisis in negotiations is at
hand. 1t is very acute. but if it can
be tided over few days without rup-
ture a basis of peace accepts BILE to both
sides may come very suddenly.
But to save the situation now Japan
must speak. If on Tuesday she has
nothing to offer all is over. M. Witte,
even if he weuld, is powerless to take
a new step. His hands are tied. He
now occupies the role of an imperial
messenger who transmits his master 8
orders to Baron Komura, and Baron
Komura turns them over to Tokyo for
response.
The conference room has ceased to
be place for negotiations. 1t is sim
ply the place where the emperors of
the warning countries exchange their
communications by the hands of the
ENJOYS. And upon the principle Of in
demnity or reimbursement for the cost
of the war, under any disguise, EN-.
peror Nicholas has given the Japanese
emperor his last word. M. Witte &C.
cents it as final, and in writing yester.
day informed the Japanese plenipoten-
tiaries that Russia would have nothing
further to say upon the subject.
Russia would cede half of Sakhalin
and pass the cost of maintenance of
the Russian prisoners, but that was
all. Emperor Nicholas had given the
same response to the president through
Ambassador Meyer.
Russians Not Dispieased.
The Russians generally seem not dis.
pleased with the situation. They be-
lieve Japan has been automatically
Unanswered into corner from which,
if she now persists in her attempt to
exact tribute, with the alternative of
a continuance of the war, she cannot
extricate herself before the public
opinion of the world. Japan here and
in Europe, they say, appealed for sym
pathy on the ground that Russia had
compelled her to take up arms to pro-
tect her life. The fortune of war had
gone in her favor and Russia, recog-
nizing that she had been beaten, and
preferring peace to continuation of the
war, had agreed to cede on every point
involved in the quarrel.
She was willing to allow Japan full
swing in Korea; she was willing to get
out of Korea bag and baggage and
commit herself to the recognition of
China's integrity and the policy Of the
"open door" But Japan, insisting
upon tribute, because Russia refused,
prolongs the carnage.
In that act they contend Japan
would change the purpose and charac-
ter of the war, which would cease to
he any longer one of principle, but de-
generate into war for the exaction of
money.
Jsps Are Worried.
There is no doubt that the Japanese
are worried over this aspect of the sit
uation, and they do not propose to be
placed in this position if it can be
helped.
Whether the president has renewed
his efforts cannot be ascertained here.
His former suggestion for compro-
mise failed. He made his appeal sim
ultaneously to both the czar and the
emperor of Japan. He proposed the
indemnity Sax hahn" combination,
but not in the form in which it was
presented by Baron Komura at We'd
nesday's meeting. Instead Of setting