Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1905-08-17
HOPE OF PEACE
NOT GIVEN UP
Is Rift in Clouds Of Pessi-
mism Surrounding Con-
ference.
THE JAPANESE SHOW ELATlON
Secret Understanding Between En-
voys Rumored = Questions of In.
demnity and Cession of Sakhalin
Are Left in the Backgr ound.

Portsmouth N. H., Aug. 10
There is a rift In the clouds. The
prospects of a successful issue of tie
Washington conference have bright
ened somewhat as a result of yester-
days developments. The discussion
of the terms submitted by Japan has
actually begun, but this has been ac-
complished by postponing the consid-
GRAFTON of the two main issues, idem-
nifty and the cession of Sakhalin.
So far as ascertainable, the Japanese
were responsible for the tactics by
which this hopeful stage was entered
upon. AS the mantle of secrecy has
been thrown around the proceedings
by mutual pledges not to divulge what
happened within the council chamber,
there are missing links in the chain
of evidence, and it is impossible to
judge whether this signifies ~backdown
of either side on the main points.
On the face of things both SIDES are
still as uncompromislng as ever upon
the two issues, the struggle over
them being merely postponed. Some
sort of private understanding arrived
at by Baron Komura and M. White
during recess at the navy yard yes
terday is limited at, but there is not
the slightest confirmation obtainable.
No evidence of a change of the uncom
promising attitude on the part of M.
White or Maron Rosen regarding the
main points is observable. Neverthe-
less the Japanese who are attached
to the Nippon mission plainly mani
fest citation and some of them pri-
vately assert that M. Witte would
never have consented to the discus
sion of the terms had ne not been
prepared to yield on the question OF,
Sakalin.
All this appears yet to be largely
surmise and deduction, but certainly
the curtain of mystery which has
now been rung down might easy
conceal important m~aneuvering from
the public gaze. The Russian reply
with it's nonpossimus as to- indemnity
and Sakalin had been presented in
the morning. Yet in spite of this fact
at 3 o'clock the plenipotentiaries met
and after agreeing to discuss the con-
ditions seriatum, entered upon the
consideration of the first of the Ja-
panese terms The proposition to
discuss conditions in this way is be-
lieved to have emanated form the Ja-
of secondary importance-one as con-
panese side. The first condition was
of secondary importance-one of those
which Russia had passed upon as con-
%ditionally acceptable as a basis of dis
cussion, yet little progress was made.
Four hours were spent in debating it,
but no conclusion was reached. AS
there are twelve conditions and this
one is of minor Importance the out
look is still gloomy.
The plenipotentiaries at Z o'clock
adjourned until this afternoon at 3
o'clock. The Japanese wanted to hold
a session in the morning, but Mr..
White would not agree to this as 1t
was Sunday.
1t is believed that the condition
discussed at yesterdays meeting was
the question of evacation Of Man
churia and the transfer of the Rus;
sian leases to Japan.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 14.-No
progress has been made with the
peace negotiations over Sunday. The
session of the plenipotentiaries which
was TO have been held yesterday
was postponed by mutual agreement
out of reverence to the Sabbath, which
is universally observed in Russia as
a day of rest.