Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-08-12
IN HANDS OF
JAPANESE
The Russian Reply to the Mika.
dos Terms Was Delivered
This Morning
BY SERGIUS WITTE
Response of Baron Ksmura and Asso.
clates Will Be Ready Either This
Afternoon or Tomorrow.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 12.-Th,
meeting of the peace conference thi.
morning lasted little more than al
hour. The Russian reply was deliv
cred by Mr.. Witte and the meetins
was adjourned to give Baron Komu
ia and his colleagues an opportunity
to examine the document Nj. White
indicated courteously that he would
expect the same expedition in the
Japanese response as had been OBJ
served in the preparation of the
Russian reply and this was readily as
sented to. The Russian ENJOYS i'm
mediately returned to their hotel while
the Japanese remained at the navy
yard. The Japanese plenipotentiaries
have agreed to make their response
to the Russian reply at o'clock this
afternoon or at the same time tomor-
row. The Associated Press is in a
position to state that the Japanese be-
lieve the Russians have been laying
the foundation for the claim that the
responsibility for a rupture, if one
comes, will have been due to their
intransigent attitude. They have de-
cided, in the case of break, to take
steps to disprove any such claim.
Russia is Not Responsible for the War;
The Russian reply to the Japanese
terms declines to admit discussion
upon two points-indemnity and the
cession of Sakhain. Others it accepts
and still others it accepts conditional
ly. 1t sets forth the reasons and the
arguments for the decision reached in
each case. The argument against the
payment of an indemnity or the ces-
sion of territory is based upon the
general theory that Russia is not re-
sponsible for the war and that as Rus
sia is still prepared to continue the
struggle and has sought this meeting,
not as a vanquished- country begging
for terms out because she sincerely
desired peace If honorable peace is
possible, therefore she could neither
agree to foot the Japanese bill for
war expenses nor cede territory.
Very Little Hope of an Agreement.
St. Petersburg, Aug. 12.-Dispatch-
es from Portsmouth make it clear that
unless there is a very substantial
abatment of the demands of the Jap
anese plenipotentiaries, which is un-
likely, the peace conference will come
TO a sudden conclusion. The two ma
tions are so wide apart that all hope
of an agreement is practically aban-
doned here. 1t is probable that the
next session will end with final ad
journment and NJ Witte may sail for
Europe very shortly.
Marshal Oyama Only Waits for News
of Rupture to Begin Attack.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 12.-So
pessimistic is the feeling among those
in the confidence of both sides that
the prediction was made that if a
meeting should be held this afternoon
it might be the last and the history of
the washington conference" would
ne abruptly concluded today. If the
negotiations are broken off Marshal
Oyama will Immediately give battle
to General Linevitch. The Associated
Press learns from un-impeachable
source that Marshal Oyama's plans
are perfected, his armies ready and
he only awaits the signal that
rupture has occurred to launch his at
tack.