The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-25

Salu TO Favor tho PrODOSitiOn-
Stirring Events at Portsmouth Dur
in" tl,c Day.
Portsmouth, \. H., August 22.-The
Associated Press is now in a position
to reveal substantially the suggestion
of President Roosevelt for breaking the
existing deadlock in the peace nego-
tiatiOns and rescuing the conference
from failure. His solution would in
genuiously permit the satisfaction of
the Japanese demands for reimburse
ment for the cost of the war, and at
the same time enable Russia to face
the world with the declaration that she
had not coded a foot of territory, or
paid Il kOpeck of war tribute to the
victor. The solution is the one which
has heretofore been described in the
associated Press dispatches as the ma
tural and logical compromise. Tersely
stated, it consists in an agreement by
Russia to r~epurchase possession of
either all Or half of the island of Sa-
kalin, now i'll the military occupation
Of Japan, for a sum the amount of
which, if the two countries cannot
agree, shall be decided by some method
of arbitration hereafter to be determin-
ed. The purchase money, together with
the sum Japan would obtain from the
cessiOn of the Chinese-Eastern rail-
rood and thn nnnin+onnnao of tho Duo
? sian prisoners in Japan would, it is
estimated, about equal the amount
claimed by Japan as her bill for the
cost of the war.
Practically, therefore, the solution by
the President involves recession by
Japan upon Article 5 the cession of
%Sakhalin) and recession by Russia
upon Article 9 Indemnity.
1t seems practically certain though
this cannot be affirmed positively, that
the President today was able to give
NJ. White substantial assurance that
Japan would be willing to accept such
Il compromise. This is apparently sup
ported by the authoritative japanese
statement made to the Associated
Press tonight in the reply to a question
as to whether Japan had not decided
to make substantial CONCESSIONS.
1t all depends upon Russia"
1t was the Presidents message to
VI. White which caused the sensation OF
the day. Early in the morning had
come the official announcement that
the meeting of the conference, Which
was to have held today, had been post
poned until tomorrow at $50 O'Clock.
The public reason assigned was that
the protocols for submission at n sit
ting had not been completed. But a
few hours later the r reason leaked
out. ]. l.. McGrew! one Of the stenOg-
raphers attached to the executive offices
at Oyster Bay. had arrived with a COM
m~unicatiOn from Il President for the
Russian Observation-Disclosures. Nj. Wltte
and Baron deROsen had left the hotel
OstenSibly for a ride in an automobile
to York beach, but instead, had quiet
ly slipped Oyer to the conference build
ing ut the navy yard to receive the
message from Assistant Secretary
Pierce. The most elaborate precau-
tons had been aiken to insure secrecy,
but it leaked out through a tip from
New York which reached the ASsOclat-
ed Press.
From 1890 to Ito, NJ. Witte and
Barren de RoSen remained at the con-
ference building with Mr.. Pierce. All
those present decline to make any
statements regarding what TRANSFERRED
at the navy yard, even refusing to ad-
NIT that any Importance was attached
to the matter. NJ. Witte would only
admit that he had zone to the building
ito send Il message" and Baron de
Rosen and Mr.. Pierce absolutely refus-
ed to make any statements. MI. Nc
Grew tool the 3:25 train to Boston,
whence. according to reports, he took
the Merchants limited, after first in
quiring at the Intelligence office for
the connections to Oyster Bay. He
carried a dress suit case which prOba-
bly, contained the reply to the Presl-
dent. This reply, it is believed, was
prepared by NJ. Witte and Baron de
Rosen. after Mr.. Pierce had delivered
TO them the Presidents message. A
suggestion is made that during the stay
at the navy yard the Russian plenipo-
tentiaries were in direct communIca-
ton with the President by telegraph,
but there is nothing to ~substantlate
this and under the circumstances, 1t
% unlikely.
. Mr.. Roosevelt's message to NJ. Wltte
and Baron de Rosen is believed to nave
been the result of his interview yester-
day at Oyster Bay with Baron keneko,
one of Marquis Ito's close friends, VINO
has acted as the Presidents medium OF
communication with the Toxic govern
gnent.
A story was in circulation at the