The Forrest City times., 1905-08-11
PROSPECTS NOT BRIGHT.
Question of indemnity the One on Which 1t is Thought Commission
 Will Fail to Agree Upon.

Portsmouth N H., Aug 10.--With
 the probability that Baron komura
 will today reveal 10 the Russian
 plenipotentaries the terms on which
 he is willing to conclude peace opin-
 ion as to the outcome among those
 who are congregated here to watch
 the. proceedings has become decided
 ly pessimistic. This is due to tho
 growing conviction that Japan's coa-
 ditlons will not prove. as moderate
 as were at one time anticipated and
 especially in the matter of indemnity
 and that they will preclude the pos
 siblity of their acceptance by the
 Russian envoys as a basis of nego-
 tiation
 The firm attitude of NJ. Wtte in
 private conversation against the
 payment of an indemnity and 1he
 reports emanating from Japanese
 quarters that stiff war contribu-
 ton approximating the cost of the
 war vigorously stated at from $6OO.-
 100000 to :. $S00,000,000 constitutes
 one of Japans demands, indicates
 wide, if not irreconeilable, difference hA tween Japan's irreducible mini- mum and what Russia is prepared to accept,
 Upon th> question of the payment of . Iargs indemnity the instruor ,ions of inc ussian plenipotentia- ries are believed ts aomit Of no con- sessions. although tf IS possible 2 certain compensation mis.nt be aF Y For instance. 1t k suggest sd thatyfor the reiinqufshmefN. of she island of Sakhalin. now in SS. pans hands, the possession of whick Japan would give her command 0 he whole Siberian literal Russia ,puld with propriety pay a large sum.
 Gloomy forebodings, however, may De premature at this juncture, as ev- erything indicates the plenipotentia- ries upon both sides are sincerely desirous of concluding a treaty oe peace.
 The first meeting of the plenipo- tentiaries was of an entirely in fact. that Baron Komura did not bring his credentials to the Ports mouth navy yard. whereas M Witts was armed with the original docu- ment in Russian, setting forth tho powers conferred upon him, and also with translation of the document The latter he read. Later in the af. ternoon, however, copies of the ere dentials were informally exchanged in order that they might be examined before the meeting tomorrow It Is known that the credentials differ slightly, but in exactly what respects could not be ascertained tonight, but the Associated Press correspondent Is assured. both by the Japanese and Russian emissaries, that the difference Is not essential. and constitutes no Ob- stacle to the official opening of the negotiations. Indeed. the president was officially informed tonight that the credentials were satisfactory to both sides.
 It was decided today to hold two daily sessions, one in the morning. be ginning at 9:30 and one in the after noon. beginning at o'clock. To avoid delay and give the plenipoten- tiaries and delegates time for consul tation between the sessions 1t has been arranged that luncheon will be served at the navy yard, and the envoys, upon leaving their quarters In the morning, will not return until the afternoon session adjourns. Three secretaries for each side will be in attendance to draw up the protocols of the meeting. II -.-t and French. The French text, how ever. In case of dispute will be ac- cepted in evidence