The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1905-08-26
BLOWS HOT AND COLD.

The wind from Portsmouth blows hot and blows
cold. One hour it is for peace another it is for
war; This morning M. de Whites declaration that
not kopek should be paid by Russia for tribute nor
an ell of land yielded to the foe, rose up like
pillar of fire against further effort for peace.
That was the feeling this (Thursday) morning, be-
fore the peace commissioners met This afternoon
a change took place. What it may effect is put
aside for the thought that it is really change and
a change always brings hope with it.
Let US be honest in our admiration of the man
who brought it about Let us forget the politician
and think only of the strategic statesman. Presi-
dent Roosevelt is the man of the hour. If peace
be the outcome of today's conference, then to an
American belongs the honor.
The strength of the presidents position is that
he commands the confidence of both sides. He has
already accomplished much in using his good of
fees to impress upon each side the necessity of
mutual concession and both sides have already
yielded great deal to his persuasion. Only
single point still separates but it is as it has been
from the beginning, the crux.
Mr.. Roosevet's compromise position which
Baron Komura formally presented at Wednesdays
meeting in which Japan agreed to entire " with
draw articles 10 and II Surrender of interned war
ships and limitation of Russia's naval force in the
est) and to substitute for articles and (cession
of Sakhain and indemnity, number of articles,
provided for an arrangement by which Japan
should get legal title to the southern half of SAX
hahn which she possessed before the treaty of
1875, while Russia should redeem repair her
title to the north half of the island for 100000,
600 yen or $e00,0O00O0.
While it is President Roosevelts proposition
in substance the Associated Press is informed that
as offered Wednesday it varies slightly from the
text of the compromise suggested to both sides.
In exactly what particular it cannot be ascertained
Russia, it be stated, while rejecting the
promise because it included remuneration of the
cost of the under another name, willing,
and indeed offered the island of Sakhan by not
only restoring the status quo existing before the
treaty of 1875, but agreeing to limit the frontier
and forever renounce all claim to the southern
half. With articles 10 and II out of the way by
Japanese recession, and article settled by COM
promise, the only thing which remained in
demnity, which has been stone wall across the
path OF complete agreement.
Tomorrow Saturday will tell the story.
During the past week enough has been dis
cussed about the presidents secret movements to
show that he had sounded England and France and
Germany upon the propositions presented for
peace. Naturally he was led to expect that Eng
land, an ally of Japan, could persuade the
mikado to modify the demand of Japan In like
manner France, the ally of Russia, could APP
peal to the car to meet such mobilization and
clude terms which the nations of the world would
not regard as dishonorable Germany might exer-
else an influence on both combatants. What has
been the result? France is doing her utmost to
secure peace and so is Germany. England is
anxious that the war should continue She is OPP
posed to an armistice in Manchuria. London pa
that Japan should not be robbed of the fruits of her
| victories,
! The Chicago Inter Ocean puts the case in
nutshell. President Roosevelt believed the civil
lied world desired that the war end. He used his
Influence with Japan and Russia to secure the APP
pointment of peace ENJOYS. Realizing that an
armistice was necessary condition of peace CON
ference the president exerted all his influence to
secure an armistice All the nations that desired
peace co-operated with the president. Only Eng
land objected Why?
England fears Russia in Asia. Therefore she
wishes the Russian army in Manchuria to be utterly
! crushed. Unable to destroy that herself she be-
lleves that Japan is in position to destroy it. Sa