New-York tribune., 1905-08-18
DEADLOCK


expenditure incurred in ''injuring Russia"
I'VE are prepared TO reimburse you for every
cent of outlay you have made for the benefit
of Russia, such as the maintenance and nursing
of Russian soldiers taken prisoners, and any
other expenditures which you may be able to
show that you incurred for our benefit said
M.Witte to the Japanese envoys. but We most
emphaticaly will not reimburse you for any
of the expenditures you have incurred in iniur
ing Russia"
This declaration closed debate of three hours
on Article 8, which provides that Russia shall
reimburse Japan for the cost of the war. The
discussion of this article occupied the entire
morning session, at the close of which the
article was laid on the table with Article <,
which provides for the cession of Saghallen to
Japan, and concerning which disagreement
was also recorded.
At the afternoon session Article 10, providing
for the transfer TO Japan of title TO certain
interned Russian naval vessels. was also dis
cussed and a disagreement recorded. and Article
II, which provides for the limitation of Rus
sia's naval strength in the Pacific, was begun
ments were issued:
At the morning session OF the conference OF
August II the plenipotentia ries discussed
Article O. Not being able TO reach a unanimous
decision the conference decided to record the
divergence of views. and proceeded TO the dis
cussion of the following article. The conference
recessed until o'clock.
In the afternoon sitting OF August IL Articles
10 and il have been discussed. Regarding Ar
ticle 10 the plenpotentaries have shown a di-
Article IL has been reserved for further discus
sion. The conference has adjourned until to-
morrow.
According TO the tentative programme an
nounced this evening by NJ. Sato, the discus
sion of Articles IL and l. will be continued be-
fore the adjournment tomorrow evening, when
recess will be taken until Monday morning
There is every reason TO believe that Article
IL, which insures to Japan certain fishing rights
on the Russian coast north of Vladivostok will
be agreed to. and that a disagreement on Article
II will be recorded. In fact, NJ Witte has al
ready assured the Japanese ENJOYS that while
Russia has mo immediate expectation of in-
creasing her naval forces the Pacific, it
would be quite incompatible with her dignity
to permit the slightest dctation on the subject
by any foreign power 1t is also true that
thus far, at least Japan shows indication
of weakening on this point.
1t seems probable that, had Russia agreed to
defray the cost Of the war and to cede Sagha-
lien to Japan, the provision limiting her naval
forces might have been yielded by Japan, but
the determined attitude of the Russian ENJOYS
on these points gave the japanese plenipoten-
tiaries no hope that cOnciliatOry attitude on
their part would accomplish anything making
for an ultimate agreement.
1t is learned this evening that Japans demand
for the interned Russian ships refers only TO
those vessels which, having been injured or at
least engaged in battle, took refuge in neutral
ports and does not include such vessels as were
in neutral ports when the war broke out and
which chose disarmament as the alternative OF
putting to sea within the required period.
According to NJ. Sato, discussion of the articles
seriatim will follow, and presumably on Mon
day morning n general discussion of the entire
situation including those articles on which dis
agreement has been recorded. As a result OF
this discussion there may, Of course, follow con-
cessions sufficiently liberal to permit an agree
ment. but that such a result is probable
cannot in the light of to-day's developments.
be asserted by the most sanguine observer of
events in Portsmouth.
With regard to the adjournment over Satur-
day and Sunday. il is explained that this is
necessary in order to permit the completion of
the protocols, which are prepared and duly
signed. one for each days proceedings. These
protocols are equivalent although more formal
10 the approval of the minutes of the previous
meeting" which is customary in all parlia-
mentary procedure. protocol for each days
sessions is carefully drawn up in both Russian
and Japanese, and these are signed by all the
ENJOYS TRANSACTIONS into French and English
are also prepared and approved. but not signed.
Because of the large amount of work done
within short time and the number of hours
which the ENJOYS have worked each day, it has
been impossible for the secretaries to keep pace
with them Never before in the history of the
world have highly important diplomatic negoti-
ations been conducted so expediuOusly.
On the Japanese side the assertion is reter-
ated that in her diplomacy Japan never bluffs"
while the Russians insist that Japan is 'quite
impossible" in her demands, and it was even
intimated that Mondays discussion would be
brief and fruitless.
DR.. Morrison, the Peking correspondent OF
The London Times" who has spent many
months in Manchuria and travelled over practi-
cally every foot of railroad within its limits.
declared to-day that there was absolutely no
occasion for the grave anxiafv Of tho corr,-