Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-17
Both Sides Pretend That Confer
ence Will Fail Unless Other
Comedies Vital Points.
SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE IN AIR
M. Wltte Says He tIas Done More
Than Any Other Russian Statesman
Would Have Dared to Do-tias Con-
coded Seven Points MISUNDERSTANDING
lin and Indemnity Monday.
uy Associated press.)

PORTSMOUTH. n, H.. Aug. To-
The prospects of peace are distinctly
brighter The ENJOYS are laboring
with seriousness and carncsincss
which leave not the slightest doubt
that both sides are anxious to conclude
treaty Though the main points re-
main to be contested and the plcnipu-
tentiarica of each side speak MS though
the conference would 20 10 piece. I'M
less the other side gives way, the
spirit of compromise is in thu air.
When lie returned to the hotel 10.
night, ~ Wittc. who was tired out
With his hard days work, said
Witte Doing All He Can.
Il am doing all can do for peace
OF the eight articles we have already
considered have yielded seven. No
other statesman in Russia would have
dared to do SO much. and | have done
what | have done upon my own re-
sponsihility"
From an authoritative source II is
now possible to forecast with fair
degree OF accuracy that the crisis will
come Oh next Monday.
Articles and :, dealing with the
fate of the Chinese Eastern railroad.
having been disposed of today there
remains. In addition To the ccssion of
Sakhnln. which was passed over, the
question of indemnity which comes up
tomorrow IA article Q. the limitation
of Russia's sea power in tho Far East
the surrender OF the informed wnrships,
and the grant to Japanese of fishing
rights on the Internal north of Vlndi.
roStUk
Indemnity and SaknaIir..
To all except the latter, to which
Russia Will agree, Il negative answer
has been returned, absolute in the
case OF Indemnity and Sakhalin. Per-
haps both tho others may be modified
and accepted by 81. Wittc In order to
strengthen his position in insisting
upon concession from japan regard
ing Sakhalin
Before yielding 1t can he regarded
as almost certain that Mr.. Wittc would
consult the Emperor
The exchange of views on the five
remaining articles is expected to he
completed on Friday or Saturday morn.
ing. nj the latest. The ENJOYS will
then adjourn until Monday and the in
Voys to consult their respective gov
ernments.
Last Cerds viii be Played.
When they meet on that day their
last cards will be thrown upon the
table.
If there Is to be bargaining it will
come then and Suddenly the confer
ence will be over or peace will be us.
surcd.
Articles Z and were disposed Of
today. the former "in principle" the
latter unanimously" according to the
official bulletins. Article Z provides
for the cession to China of the branch
OF the Chinese Eastern railroad, rum
ming south from Hardin TO Port Ar
thur and Dalny and with branch line
connecting at Now Chwang with the
Shan Hal kwan-Ticn Tsin road
Road Through Northern Manchuria.
Article s provides for the retention
by Russia OF the line through north
ern Manchuria which forms the CON
Meeting link of the main line of the
trans Siberian and the Usnrri. with its
termini at Vladivostok and Iarbor-
oVsk.
From both sides tho Associated
Press is Informed that tho acceptance,
that certain points remain to be elab-
Grated, not that dispute still exists
But this may possibly he only CON
venient method of postponng until
the final struggle. the acceptance OF
an article which could be used In the
ultimate compromise.
Russin, by the acceptance of these
= two articles in connection with ar
ticles 2. :. and 6. slIrrendcrs every
vestige of her ambition in Manchuria
Cioses Door to Ice Free Port.
She closes the door to the warm
weather, Ice free port df Dalny. upon
which she 'lavished her millions and re-
tains only as n commercial road, the
link of the railroad connecting her ELL
ropean possessions with the maritime
provinces upon the Pacific. The right
to police it with Russian troops or
railroad guards is given up and its
protection will become the duty of
China.
There were persistent rumors about
the hotel late tonight that several
powers, including the Washington gov
eminent are bringing pressure TO hear
upon JapaE to forego "the cost of the
M L.