The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-08-28
PEACE HANGING
BY A THREAD
TOday's Conference Postponed
Until Tuesday
TAKAHIRA'S STATEMENT
SAYS CHANCES OF PEACE ARE AL.
MOST HOPELESS. WIrTE
THINKS HE HAS JAPAN's
ENJOYS IN A HOLE.

Portsmouth. Aug. 27.-The life of
The peace conference today seems to
hang by thread. but the thread will
not be broken tomorrow. At ten o..
| clock ton 'ght after conference last
ing three quarters of an hour between
Takahira and Witte, In the latter's
room In the hotel Annex. the announce.
ment of postponemenr was made.
Witte explained to the Associated
Press that Takahira Told him no new
instructions had reached him from To
klo, and fearing none might be re-
ceiVed before the meeting scheduled
| for tomorrow afternoon he suggested
the proprlety of postponing the meet
ing until Tuesday. To this WItte said
he readily assented
Takahira made the following state
ment TO the Associated Press: "In-
| asmuch as this conference was init.
lated by the friendly offices of your
president, after consultat on we felt
we should be cautious about termin-
ating its laborers."
Pressed whether he regarded the
situation hopeless. Takahira said:
mo. not hopeless, but almost hope
less"
This In itself from one who has
spoken always in the most guarded
fashion, Is sufficient TO show the des-
perateness Of the situation. The real
or sis in the negotiations is at hand.
IL Is very acute but If IT can be tided
over few days without rupture. a
basis of peace acceptable TO both sides
may come very suddenly, but TO save
the situation now, Japan must speak
II on Tuesday she has nothing to Of
fer all is over.
Witte, even II he would, Is power
less to take new step. The Rus
slams generally seem not displeased
with the situation. They believe that
Japan has been automatically man
cuvered into corner from which. if
she now persists In an attempt to
exact tribute with the alternative of
the continuance Of the war, she can
not extEicate herself before the pub.
lie opinion of the world
Japan here and in Europe. they
say, appealed for sympathy on the
ground that Russia compelled her to
take up arms 10 protect her life. The
fortune Of war had gone in her favor
and Russia, recognizing she had been
beaten and preferring peace to con
tinuation Of the war, had agreed to
cede upon every point involved in the
quarrel She is willing to allow Jap
an full swing in Korea, she Is willing
to get out of Manchur,a bag and bag
gage, and commit herself to recogni-
tion of Chinas integrity and the pol
icy of the open door" but the Jap.
anese insisted upon tribute and be-
cause Russia objects TO that prolongs
the carnage. In that act they contend
that Japan would change the purpose
and character of the war, which would
cease to be longer one of principle
but degenerate into war for exaction
of the money.
There Is no doubt that the Japanese
are worried over this aspect Of the
S situation and they do not propose to
be placed In this position If il can be
helped
According to high Russian ally.
who has been in q position TO see
President Roosevelt's communication
proposing the compromise. 1t quite
clearly showed that the president con.
sidcred that Japan's victories gave
her the right to ask for indemnity, in
TACT If not in name, and her military
occupation Of Sakhalin gave her the
right TO the island. tn
Assistant Secretary Pierce, after the
announcement Of the decision to al.
iourn over to Tuesday, saw both
Wltte and Takahira and then sent a
long cipher message to the president.
Although the public tonight is led
to believe that the meeting Is definite
ly adjourned until Tuesday, the AS
sociated Press learns late tonight that
according to the joint understanding
between Witte and Takahira, II was
agreed that there would be no meet.
Ing until Japans response 10 what
may be regarded as the Russian ul
timatum arrived. The meeting there,
fore may not be held until Wednes.
day or Thursday.
Toxic must now decide and, judg.
Ing from the tone Of the Japanese
press, the government must face a
great deal of opposition at home II
| It yields further.
After the interview. Witte called De
Martens and Pokotiloff In conference.
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