The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-19
CRISIS REACHED IN
PEACE CONFERENCE
Enjoys Cannot Agree on Indemnity
and Sakhalin.
COMPROMISE THE ONLY CHANCE

Portsmouth, n. H., Aub' 10 A"N
crisis in the peace conference mas
been reached and pessimism in again
the note
But the darkest hour is just before
the dawn and there is still hope. Pre-
dictions OF final rupture certainly
will not be justified unless Baron ko-
mura figuratiyely picks up his hat ana
announces that il is useless TO pro-
coed further. Mr Witte, at least, Will
not be precipitate. At today's session.
after article IL (the limitation of Rus
sias sea power In the Far East and
article u (fishing rights on the Rus
sian littoraD are disposed of he will
favor an adjournment until Monday
to hear the last word from St Peters
burg.
The pessimism is based upon the
fact that no progress was made yes
terday. The exchange of views at the
morning session upon article nine ire
muneration for the cost OF the war;
showed at once that the plenipOten-
tiaries were as far apart as the poles,
and II was passed over. Article 10 tthe
surrender Of the informed Russian
warshlps) was also passed, not. in the
opinion Of one of the plenipOtentiaries
because ii could not have been ar
ranged. but because with the shadow
OF the two main points in dispute
hanging over the conference. both
sides were cautious and preferred to
postpone It to the end Article II Clim-
itation OF sea power is also adjust
able after modification and article II
will present no difficulties. SO that
the situation was practically what II
was when Mr. Wtte last Saturday
presented the Russian reply with It's
non pOssumus to articles five and nine
Indemnity and Sakhalin).
The only change is now compro-
mise-Russia to yield Sakhalin and
Japan indemnity Neither will yield
both. and perhaps Japan. at the final
show OF hands. will yield neither. Mr..
Witte. under the imperial indications
contained in the instructions given
him before he left st. Petersburg. can
agree neither To pay war sribute nor
cede a foot OF Russian soil. ST. Peters
burg therefore. in the last resort re-
mains TO be heard from Doubtless
this Il the reason why he fayors a
postponement over Sunday Baron ko-
mura probably will welcome an ad-
iournment of two days in order that
he also NAV lay the situation before
his government for It's final decision.
The sudden revival Of deep pessi-
mism was Induced by the report
given out when the plenipotentiaries
returned to the hotel that no progress
had been made. But 10 those on the
inside that was not surprising. Things
have gone smoothly enough. only the
impasse had been reached-there had
been the CLINT OF cold steel In the con-
ference chamber. And the few words
Mr.. Wltte said to the foreign news
paper correspondents was. as usual.
not encouraging He looked tired and
No very great hope was youchsafed
in the japanese camp I'VE are not
buffers" said Mr.. SatO. and from an
authoritative source the Associated
Press correspondent received a dis
tinctly bad impression regarding the
outlook. II was coupled. however, with
an expression of the hope that II 1t
developed that the conference was
going to pieces. President Roosevelt
might again step in.
1--WE have heard that the president,
having brought us together. has wash
ed his hands of further responsibility.
But he is resourceful He might do
something"
"What?"
THAT | cannot say"
The japanese view was explained.
I'VE came asking only what we
wanted. Our terms were moderate.
The world thinks so. II looks bad.
say so. believe so. But the confer
ence may yet be saved from ship
wreck Mr.. Witte has been gracious.
He has done what he can. but he has
future at home to consider"
Mr. DeMartens. one of the Russian
delegates. and recognized as one of
the great authorities on international
law. not only in Russia. but through
out the world, in speaking to a cores
pendent about the principle of the war
indemnity, said that there was no
precedent in history where country
whose territory was not occupied In
whole or in part by the enemy had
paid war tribute upon the conclusion
of peace. Russia, Mr.. DeMartens said,
was not crushed. She was not on her
knees begging for peace. She wanted
peace. but she could go on fighting
for years. Japan had not even ap-
preached the true Russian frontier.
SHOULD Russia consent to pay
tribute to Japan In any FORM" con-
tinued the eminent jurist, lit would be
her political death. The powers would
understand that she accepted the
proposition of President Roosevelt, not
because she was DESTROYS Of an honor
able peace, but because her power had
been annihilated and she recognized
that it was impossible for her to con-
tinue the war. 1t would mean public
confession that Russia is at Ports
mouth, helplessly kneeling before ia
pan. imploring peace and ready to ac-
cept any terms imposed. No one will
seriously contend that the Muscovite
empire Is In any such position"
LETTER FROM Mr.. POWERS