The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-28


 neetinq of the peace conference which was to have been held tomorrow has been postponed untI Tuesday at D. m. at the request of Mir. Takahra, who explained that the Japanese en- VOWS had received nothing as yet from Toklo.
 Portsmouth, N. H., August 28, 1910 a. m.-There is a persistent report that President Roosevelt has made a new appeal to the Emperor of Japan. Portsmouth, N. H., August 27.-The life of inc peace conference today seems to hang by a thread, but the thread will not be broken tomorrow. At 10 o'clock tonight. after a conference lasting three- quarters of an hour between MT. Taka- hira and M. Witte in the latters room in the hotel annex, the announcement Of a postponement was made. M. Witte e1- plained to the Associated Press that Mr. Takahira had told him that no new in structions had reached him from Toko, and fearing none might be received be- fore the meeting scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, he had suggested the propriety of postponing the meeting until Tuesday To this M Witte said he had readily as- sented Mr. Takahra made the follow ing statement to the Associated Press:
 .Inasmuch as this conference was in- itiated by the friendly offices of your President, after consultation we felt that we should be cautious about terminating its labors."
 Pressed as to whether he regarded the situation as hopeless, MT. Takahira said '.No, not hopeless, but almost hope less"
 This information from one who has spoken almost in the most guarded fash ion is sufficient to show the desperate ness of the situation. The real crisis in the negotiations is at hand. It Is very acute but if it can be tided over for few days without a rupture, a basis of peace acceptable to both sides may come very suddenly. But to save the situa- ton now Japan must speak. If on Tues day she has nothing to offer, all is over
 Witte is Powerless.
 M. Witte, even if he would. is powerless to take a new step. His hands are tied He now occupies the role of an imperial messenger who transmits his masters orders to Baron Komura, and Baron Ko-
 
 response The conference room has ceased to be place for negotiations. It Is simply the place where the Emperors of the warning countries exchange their communications by the hands of their enyoys
 And upon the point of indemnity or re- imbursement of ''frais de guerre' under any disguise, Emperor Nicholas has given the Japanese emperor his last word M Witte accepts 1t as final, and in writing yesterday informed the Japanese pleni- potentlaries that Russia would have noth- ing further to say upon this subject Russia would cede haIf of Sakhalin, and pay the cost of the maintenance of the Russian prisoners. but that was all. Elm peror Nicholas had given the same re- sponse to the President through Am bassador Meyer. The Russians generally seem not displeased with the situation They believe Japan has been diplomati- cally maneuvered into corner, from which, if she now persists in her attempt to exact tribute with the alternative of a continuance of the war, she cannot extri- cate herself before the public opinion of the world. Japan here and in Europe. they say, appealed for sympathy on the ground that Russia had compelled her to take up arms to protect her life. The fortune of war had gone in her favor and Russia, recognizing that she had been beaten and preferring peace to the con tinuation of the war, had agreed to con ced every point involved in the quarrel She was willing to allow full swing in Corea. she was willing to get out of Man churia, bag and baggage, and commit herself to the recognition of China's in- tegrity and the policy of 'the open door,"
 laps Are Worried.
 But Japan insisted upon tribute and because Russia refused prolongs the car mage. In that act they contend Japan would change the purpose and character of the war which would cease to be no longer one of principle, but degenerate into a war for the exaction of money.
 There is no doubt that the Japanese are worried over this aspect of the situation, and they do not propose to be placed in this position if 1t can be helped. With the sentiment existing in Japan demand ing reimbursement for the expenses of the war. a money payment beyond what would be obtained for the maintenance of Russian prisoners and the Chinese Eas- tern railroad, could not be foregone But if redemption by Russia could be placed upon a purely commercial basis, Russia might agree to it. Logic points in this direction for the ultimate compromise if there is to, be one.
 Whether the President has renewed his efforts cannot be ascertained here. His former suggestion for a compromise failed. He made his appeal simultaneously to both the Czar and the Emperor of Japan He proposed the indemnity Sak- halin" combination but not in the form In which 1t was presented by Baron Ko- mura at Wednesdays meeting. Instead of setting the price d, 200 100000 yen, the estimated cost of the war) he suggested that If an agreement could not beIreached
 fcortIr,,.d .n s.rond pE.,