Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1905-08-30
LOOKS like PEACE
Was ASSURED

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 29.-Tues-
day morning Baron Komura, acting
upon instructions received from Toxic,
as result of Mondays meeting of the
cabinet and elder statesmen, under the
direct presidency of the emperor of ia
pan, submitted to M. Witte a new basis
of com promise, and that compromise,
it is firmly believed, will insure peace.
The announcement that Japan had
already informed Emperor Nicholas,
through Ambassador Meyer, that Japan
was ready to waive the question of in
demnity and submit the price to be
paid for the northern half of Sahalin
to the judgment of mixed commits
sion, prepared the way for Japan's
backdown upon the main issue.
The announcement had been the sen.
sation of the day. 1t had met with de-
malls high and low, and was decided
to be impossible or incredible. The
Japanese declined to affirm and the
Russians said they had no confirma-
ton.
M. White intimated strongly that st.
Petersburg had not apprised him of any
such action by the president. There
was even disposition to ridicule the
idea of arbitration of the price of half
of the island. Neverless. on all hands
it was admitted that if Japan took this
position the ground was cut out from
under Emperor Nicholas.
M. Witte, by consumate skill in con.
cealing all the demands of Japan in
volving the real issues Of the war, had
maDeuvered his adversaries into posi-
ton where, unless they abandoned the
claim for indemnity, they could be
held responsible for continueing the
war for money.
The Japanese, by now foregoing the
demnad for indemnity, practically turn
the tables upon Russia and shift the
burden back to her shoulders if she
does not consent to submit minor is
sue to the impartial judgment of a tri-
bunal. M. Witte politically dissents
vigorously but if Japan agrees to form.
ally renounce all claims for direct or
indirect compensation for the expenses
of the war the big stumbling block to
| podC0 ~ OuU VI Un0 way.
All the private advices that reach
the Russian mission from st. Peters.
burg indicate that the military party
is insistent that Linevitch be given q
chance and that negotiations be broken
off
M. White fears the pressure of this
sentiment, and, as a man of ambition,
he may not feel that he can afford to
lay himself open to the charge that he
is temporizing with the situation. He
has power under his instructions to re-
ject out of hand any proposition involv
ing the payment of tribute. We need
not consult his imperial master He
is man of inspiration, and he is quite
capable, if the Japanese proposition
savors still of "blood money, to refuse
even to accept it for transmission te
st. Petersburg.
But such a stroke is unexpected. M.
Witte knows that public opinion, both
in America and in Europe, as we'll al
in Russia, would condemn him if he
broke off the negotiations Just as the
way was opened for possible accord
While apparently the real negotia.
lions leading up to todays' nenouement
were conducted by the president al
Oyster Bay, acting through Baron Ka.
neko ON the one hand and Ambassador
Meyor on the other, it is now believed
that much has been going on beneath
the surface here