The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-08-24
JAPAN'S aFER
NO CONCESSOA
Witte Refuses to Agree to
Russia's Payment Of Ir-
demnity No Matter How
Disguised.
HOPES OF PEaGE DASHED


STATEMENTS TO-DAY MAKE
THE MOST sANGUINE DeuBu.
FUL.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., August "a,
1905.-The peace conference isnaflnsses-
sion today. The adjournment from yes
terday afternoon until Saturday next
was made necessary By the presenra-
ton of modified terms by the aJpanese,
which it was necessary for the Russian
ENJOYS to communicate to the Czar. Il
does not follow that the notifications
are of very great importance. Indeed,
Mr. Witte intimated yesterday that 4
change of form, rather than change Of
essence, was involved
Mr.. Korostoyitz said his morning: A1r.
Witte and Baron Resen viii go to Mag
nolia in an automobile today. We expect
the Baron to stay at his home. all night,
but Mr.. Witte viii retusn here this sEsn-
ing.
Optimism has given place 70 pessinisns
within twenty-four hours.
The Russian ENJOYS today seem to be-
in an absolutely uncornpromising position
and only word from ST. Petersburg can
change their position. Japan needs the
money. For sentimental reasons and for
othr reasons of more materialistic sort
she wants to retain the island Of
SalShalin. The people of Japan would be
disappointed with peace that involved
the restoration of even a part Of it to
Russia. On the other hand it has been
said here with great positiveness that.
Mr.. Witte would not dare to go back 10
Russia if he aceeped terms which would
be agreeable to Japan in her present
state of mind.
There are those who assert that in
spite of his desiring peace Mr.. Witte is
so determined that Russia viii not pay
kopec in the way of indemnity that he
would put his duty as a patriotic Rus
sian before his duty as Minister.
Two notable statements were made by
Mr.. Witte yesterday The were frank
and deliberate At the close of the morn
ing session the chief Russian envoy said:
Il have received no proposal from the
President" This was in fat contradic-
tion to the reports that had been circu-
lated and upon which elaborate and sem
sational superstructures had been reared
to the effect that Mr.. Roosevelt had
formulated plan which he had subnnit-
ted to the head of the Cars missiaa.
Mr.. Witte's second announcement came
later in the day, at time of great ex-'
citement, when everybody was on the tip
toe of expectation on hearing that the an
voys had left the navy yard.
His ExceIlency prefaced his aceeunt Of
what had been done by saying: 1--WE have.
accomplished nothing. We have arrived
nowhere" This was most significant,
coming as it did on the top Of the psesen-
ration of the modified terms of the jap
anese.
| 1t is said in certain quarters here that
the Japanese. in putting forward the sug-
gestion that the northern half Of Sakha.
lin, or the part held by her in 1876,
should be purchased by Russia, in lieu Of
paying an indemnity. did so with the sure
knowledge that Mr.. Witte would reject
it emphatieally. At the same time tAis
would be good diraomatic move and one
likely to convince the civilized world that
the ENJOYS of the Mikado were anxious
to display the spirit Of Cancellation which
the President had suggested to both par
ties at the meeting on the MayAower Al
j the same time there was nothing to bd
lost or risked in putting forward a plan
which, because of its containing prori.
sions for the payment Of concealed in.
demnity, was impossible unless a rsdical
change took place in the IDEAS Of Che
other side.