Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-27
Crisis Passed for Time Being,
But Gulf Between the
Enjoys is Wide.
BOTH SIZES ARE ~ EARNEST
In This Fact IS Found Only Hope of
a Satisfactory Solution of the Nego.
Acknowledgements Camp Opposes
Further concessions-lf Russia
Wants sakhatin Let Her Take It,
tBy Associated rrcss.)

tI3y Associated lrCSS.)
PORTSMOUTH,, n. H.. Aug. d.
AS Indicated in these dispatches last
night there WIS no rupture in the
peace negotiations today. Peace is
by no means assured. hut an import
ant crisis has been tidcd over and the
fact that the life of the conference has
been prolonged into next week, adds
materially to the chances Of IL favor
able issue.
According to the Russian version il
was Japan and not Russia who weak
ened this afternoon. NJ. Wittc pub
lcily announced after tho sitting that
ii was Baron komura who asked for
an adjournment until Monday in or
der to have time to submit new pro
position.
Witte Gets New instructions.
Yet ii is known that NJ. Wittc has
received instructions, sent after the
Presidents interrogation at Pctcrhof
through Ambassador Meyer. to agree
to the division of Sakhalin and To
permit liberal compensation for the
Russian prisoners Of war and the ccs.
SIGN of the Chinese Eastern railway,
but to continue absolutely to refuse To
pay war tribute under any guiSp.
This was described as Russians "ul-
timatum" leaving the same old qucS-
ton of money the stumbling block 10
an agreement.
1t Was Russia's Move.
In the regular course of procedure.
after the presentation of the Japanese
compromise proposition OH WcdncS-
day the diplomatic move passed to
Russia and il was NJ. Whites turn nat
r.,
ton to his government. If he succeed
ed as is minated, in withholding his
card and forcing the Japanese to play
again he undoubtedly gained Il point
in the game. lsut no adequate ac-
count Of the proceedings at today's
meeting is forthcoming. The plcnipo-
tentiarics, by agreement, excluded the
secretaries. There were no minutes.
There Is no record This, in itself, q
very significant. When men who are
fighting desperate battle lock them
selves in room alone, it is the best
evidence that they arc terribly in ear
nest.
A Hopeful Sign.
1t is n hopeful sign All that is for
mally announced is that the minutes
of the last session were approved and
upon Baron Komura's motion the con-
ference adjourned until Monday at
3 O'CLOCK. But whether Or. not the
counter proposition OF Russia was sub.
mittcd at this afternoons session. ii
seems 10 he up TO Japan" to formally
renouncc her dcmhnd for the "frais tic
guerre," and try to obtain Il partial
reccmpense in another way-for in
stance, by n bona fidc sale of the
northern half of Sakhalin.
The most competent Japanese au-
thority said tonight:
The question of peace or war still
hangs i'll the balance"
Against Further Concession.
For the first time there appears to
be some disscnsiOn in the Japanese
camp as to the ACCESSIBILITY of making
another cOnciliatory step. Many Of
the attaches arc strongly of the opin-
ion that they should not recede an
ether inch. Tho most prominent ii
them said tonight TO the Associated
Press:
1--WE only offered one-half of SAX
halin upon condition that we should
receive for it the price we fixed. The
island Ia ours by right of conquest.
If Russia imagincs we will give M
half Of it for nothing she is much mis-
taken. Our answer should be: Come
and take II
The medium of communication be.
tween Baron Kaneko, who is acting
for Japan i'll the pour parlcurs with
the President and the Japanese plcni-
potentiaries. has been discovered. IL
is Mr. Uchda. tho Japanese consul
general at New York. After Baron
KanelIos visit to Oyster Bay yesler
day long account of the Interview
was transmitted by telegraph in cipher
to Baron Komura by MIR. Uchida