The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-26
pieces Of their Governments and will only
execute what their Governments order
HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT.

Both Mr.. Witte and Baron Komura have
received many cable messages to-day.
but the contents or substance OF these have
not been made public. 1t Is understood
that the Russians heard again from Mr..
Roosevelt this evening and that the Presi-
dent urged, as he has heretofore, that there
should be an agreement reached. Accord
ing to one source Of information. the Presi-
dent notified Mr.. Witte that he hoped
an adjustment would be reached on the basis
Of the proposal made by Baron Komura and
Mr.. Takahira with reference to Sakhalin
Island. Before this statement was made
Mr.. Witte had declared emphatically that
the President had never urged upon the
Russian ENJOYS the acceptance Of, any
definite plan Of settlement but had confined
his representations to general tender OF
good offices.
The Japanese while Indicating very
plainly that they have nothing new to
offer, continue to assert through Mr.. Sato,
their official mouthpiece, that they are
anxious to obtain peace. 1t may be that
they are awaiting advices from Toxic with
reference to the latest communication
made by Mr. Roosevelt to Baron Kaneko,
but the telief here Is that they are basing
hope Of successful outcome on the sup
position that the influence which the Presi-
dent has brought to bear at Peterhof and
Portsmouth will have some effect
JAPAN's PREVIOUS SURPRISES.
It has been constantly pointed out In the
Portsmouth dispatches to THE Son that in
all tho calculations az to the prospects OF
the negotiations the fact had frequently
been overlooked that nobody knew just
what the course Of Japan would be IL the
worst came to the worst. In this lies the
uncertainty Of the present situation.
On two occasions the Japanese ENJOYS
have sprung surprises. At the very outset
Of the conference, when the Russian pleni-
potentiaries rejected fatty the demands
OF Japan for the payment of indemnity,
the cession Of Sakhalin, the surrender Of
intened ships and the limitation of Russia's
naval power in Far Eastern waters. it was
supposed by most people. including the
Russians, that the conference would end
in failure then and there.
So much had been said about the ire
ducible minimum represented in Jspan's
demands that the view was prevalent that
until all OF them were accepted by Ruasia
Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira would
withdraw from the conference
But when the Russians declined to accept
the most important Of Japan's conditions
the ENJOYS Of t6at Government did not pick
up their hats and leave the conference room.
nor did they present an ultimatum They
merely suggested quietly and calmly that
the conditions presented should be dis
cussed. This oonciliatory attitude saved
tho day, and things went along swimmingly
for while.
Another crisis was reached when the
rejected terms were again taken up for
consideration and formal failure to agree
upon them was recorded. For a second
time the Japanese plenipotSnthries were
expected to declare the negotiations at an
end, but again those who were wishing for
peace were agreeably disappointed, Baron
Komura and Mr.. Takahira came forward
with proposal to compromise on the basis
Of the repurchase Of part Of SAkhalin Island
by Russia and to waive the demand
for an indemnity. That proposition, in
formally rejected by Mr. Witte and Baron
Rosen. is to be considered when the ENJOYS
next have business session.
From all information obi ainable this
evening neither side will give way and the
conference will result in failure. But there
has been no formal, authoritative state
ment to that effect from tho japanese
ENJOYS. Who knows, then. the hopeful
ones ask, whether the Japanese viii decline
to make any moro concessions?
WILL PROBABLY ADJOURN TO-DAY.
This line Of suggestion is given here
merely to show. that as long as Japan's
ENJOYS remain In the conference the out
come must be regarded with some I'm
certainty. When the ENJOYS assemble to-
morrow they will probably agree to ad-
journ over'untn some day next week. All
evidence at hand points to final disagree
ment then.
One Of the japanese mission said to-
night that II the ENJOYS found they could
not agree the protocol setting forth that
fact would be drawn in the conference
room and would be 81 gned before the sd-
iownment, which would mark the close Of
the Portsmouth negotiations.
LATE MEssAoH FROM GEAR.
Late tonight the final response Of the
Russian Government with respect to the
Japanese proposal concerning the purchase
OF Sakhalin Island, was received by Mr..
Witte. It Is regarded as not wholly q 70
lection Of the Japanese compromise sug-
gestion, but It Is impossible at this writing !
to say whether It will change the situation.
NO YIELDING, SAY JAPANESE.