Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-08-17

sys.smoush, n. H.. Aue. 1o.- WI
Iths PROBABILITY that Baron K0mu
sIWill Thursday reveal TO the Runsi'
plenipotentIaFies the terms upon Will
1 Japan d willing 70 conclude peas
opinion dc 10 tho outcome afnong tho
whc are congregatsd here 70 watch y
nrOcoedines has became decidedly ~
|nimietic! This n due 10 the growiI
conviction that Japan's cCpdition VI
not prove as moderate e were Il q
time anticipated and. especially IN u
? matter Of indemnity, may preclude a
possibility of their acceptance by u
Russian ENJOYS a. 4 basis cf nsgcti'
tons.
The Arm attitude Of Mr.. Witte !
!, iprivhte conversation against the pay
ment Of indemnity and the insister
\ reports emanating from Japanese quar-
/ ters that q stiR war contribution ap
| proximating the cost Of tho war, var
iotisly stated at from 600 to 800 mil
lions. constitutes one Of Japan's de
mdnds, indicates . wide, II not aI
iTreconcilable difference between Ja
pans irreducible minimum and wha
Russia 10 prepared TO accept. Upcr
the question Of the payment Of largI
indemnity the instructions Of the Rus.
sian pIenipotentiaries are believed x
admit Of no concessions although Il Il
/ possible q certain compensation ID kind
might be arranged. For instance, Il
Il suggested that for th6 relinquish-
ment Of tho island Of Gakhalin. now
potentially IN Japan's hands, the pos
session Of which BY Japan would give
her command Of the whole Siberian
littoral, Russia could with pFopFisty
pay 4 large sim. ~. Ai3if1s3
Gloomy forebodlngs, however, may
be premature at this juncture, as every
thing indicates the plenipote ntiaries
upon both sides are sincerely DESTROYS
Of concluding treaty Of peace.
The first meeting Of the pienipotsn-
tiaries Wednesday was Of an entirely
informal character, 30 informal IN
fact that Baron Komura ala not bring
bis letter Of crsdsnce to the Portsmouth,
navy yard, whereas M. Witte was
armed with the original document IN
Russian setting forth the powers con-
ferred upon him and also with q trans
latlon Of the document. The latter he
read. Baron KomuFa was embarrassed
and offered 70 send back to the hotel
for his communication, but Mr.. Witte
expressed his faith that the credentials
we're full and ample and It was arFang-
ID that oflcial exchanges Of credentials
should be made Thursday.
Later In the afternoon, however,
copies Of the credentials were inform
ally exchanged In order that they
might be examined before the meeting
Thursday. It Is known that the ere
ientials differ slightly. In exactly
What respect could not be ascertalned
Wednesday night, but the Associated
press correspondent is assured both BY
no Japanese and Russian aInisseries
hat tho difference IL not essential and |
Constitutes no obstacle TO tho ofIciaI |
'pening Of the negotiations. Indeed, |
be president was oficiaIly informed |
Wednesday night that the credentials |
Tere fully. ample and satisfactory TO
9th sides.
Il was decided Wednesday TO hold |
wO daily sessions, one IN the morning |
at $50 and one IN the after
Don beginning at s. TO avoid delay
nd give the plenipotentiafies and DEL
gates time for consultation between
pssicns, II has been arranged that iun.
heCn Will DO served AZ the navy yard
nd the ENJOYS upon leaving their
uarters IN the morning win not return
nth the afternoon session adjourns.
hree secretaries for each side viii BE-
attendance to draw up the protocols
the meetings, which win b written
both English ana French.
The French text, however, III cases
dispute win Be accepted in evidence
aire foD. This oflcial versions q
'ednesdays meeting given out By each
dc described II as satisfactory, = and
her accounts indicate that while
'erything passed OF amicably, con-
derable reserve was displayed upon
lth sides,