The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-22
RUSSIAN REPLY
BEING FRAMED
Ground for Hope That the Confer
ence May Terminate Happily.
COMPROMISE is POSSIBLE
RoosEVELT's EFFORTS HIGHLY
APPRECIATED.

u Il
y m--The Russian governments fin
al statements to NJ. Witte, outlin =
ing the course that he shall pursue
at the reopening of the peace confer
ence at Portsmouth, are still in pro-
cess of being put into cipher prior to
being forwarded to America. With the
receipt of St. Petersburg's late mes
sage, the brief breathing spell viii have
ended. st. Petersburg leaves the final
word with her representative at Ports
mouth.
Russia Sincere.
The Associated Press is in a position
to state that when the nature of these
communications beoomes generally
known il viii be seen that i'm sincere
desire TO effect a satisfactory settle
ment the government has gone as far
as its extremely vital state interests
VIII permit. 1t can furt IT be said that
for this reason the government is firm
ly convinced that In case OF failure
OF the negotiations the responsibility
viii not rest with Russia. which has
conceded much already. While it is inn
possible to learn the actual contents
of the governments communication to
M. Witte, il can be declared that the
requirements of the state make con-
cessionS of the questions of indemnity
and Sakhalin, as these questions were
originally presented by the Japanese.
Given Due Consideration.
1t is certain that in the matter of
concession the four points now In dis
pute have been considered and studied
here in the light Of concessions Russia
already has granted on the other eight
articles.
The foregoing is a brief but accurate
outline of the platform upon which
NJ Witte will meet the Japanese plen-
ipotentiaries today.
Baron de Rosens reports regarding
his interview with President Roose-
welt have been received here and their
perusal by the government has only
increased their feeling of gratitude and
appreciation for President RooseVelts
continued efforts Baron de Rosen's
communications TO the emperor are
such as do not require a special an
swer.
Hope Not Abandoned
Hopeful feelings were notable here
yesterday that peace was stilI possible
and il is believed by some that Rus
sia's answer viii give material evil
dence of such = sincere desire to reach
settlement that japan win practi-
before the world IS utterly unreason-
able and nsatiable
It is believed that the questions Of the
surrender of informed ships and the
limitation Of Russia's naval power ia
the far east will be Satisfactorily set
tied. There then remains the question
of the payment of indemnity and the
cessiOn of Sakhalin by Russia The
first may be overcome by Russia fol-
lowing Japan's lead in avoiding the
use of the word indemnity but con-
senting to make certain payments to
Japan on other SCORES. the chief of
these being JapanA BIN for keeping
100000 Prisoners. which is expected TO
be very heavy. The sums mentioned as
the possible payment on account of
these prisoners range from $50 900 900 to
$3.50. 000. 900. Little or nothing is OBJ
tainable here regarding the possible
disposition of the question relating to
Sakhalin.
Point to Be Considered.
Interest has been manifested lately
in the attitude of the japanese people
and it is recognized in some quarters
that the japanese government and
plenipOtentiaries may have to shape
their course to meet and satisfy the
demands voiced by the Japanese pub
lie
There is no reason to believe that the
idea that Japan might not be bile to
find money to continue the VAR has
not been, considered here as a serious
weakness of the Japanese position.