The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-08-23
Peace or War Still Hangs in
the Balance.
A SHORT ADJOURNMENT.
Believed That Cars Reply Has Been
Received and That apanese Have
resented Compromise offered
BY President.

Portsmouth,, N. H., August 23.-This
mornings peace conference beganprompt
" at $3.50 o'clock The Russians left
the hotel at 9.06 and tile japanese five
minutes later Special arrangements
have been made TO keep President
Roosevelt informed Of any developments.
A telegraph wire has been cut into the
navy yard, directly connecting the con-
fernee building with Oyster Bay.
It is expected that today's conference
will determine the issue Of peace or
war. The first business was reading
for comparison and signature the pfoto.
coils Of previous meetings.
NJ. Witte announced that the proto-
cols were read and corrected at tins
mornings session. The conference then
adjourned until two this afternoon.
Adjourned Until Saturday.
Unofficial reports come from the navy
yard that the conference has adjourned
until Saturday.
1t is believed that the compromise pro
position Of President Roosevelt was pre-
sented by the japanese ENJOYS this
morning and that the adjournment IS
taken for q consideration OF the COM
promise. A high authority said this
morning that he believed It impossible
that 4 final rupture can come today no
matter what the character OF the En-
pero@s final instructions to Mr.. Nltte.
'If the negotiations can be prolonged
into next week" said he so much pres
sure will he brought to bear upon the
Emperor that he win not be able to
resist
The Presidents Proposition.
Tefsely stated. President Roosevelt's
proposition. received yesterday, consists
ia an agreement BY Russia to re-purehase
possession Of either all or halt Of the
island Of Sakhalin now in the military
occupation Of Japan for "a sum the amount
OF which, If tile two countries cannot
agree shall be decided by some method
81 arbitration hereafter to be determin-
ed. The purchase money, together with
the sum Japan would obtain from the
cessi0n Of the Chinese eastern railroad
and the maintenance of the Russian
prisoners IN Japan would, ii is estimat-
ed, about equal the amount claimed by
Japan as her bill for the cost OF the
war Practically therefore the solution
offered by the President involves recess
sion by Japan upon article FIVE, (the
cessioa of sakhalin) and recession by
Russia upon article . Indemnity.
Cable Message from st. Petersburg.
A long cable message from st. Peters
burg which was believed To be the Rus
sian reply, arrived about ten o'clock
last night and Mr.. NNitte's secretaries,
Mr.. NabukoH and Mr. planeon, immedi-
ately began deciphering it.
Considerable excitement was apparent
I'D tile annex where the Russian head-
quarters were located Sheet by sheet
the translation was taken to Mr.. Mitte' !
room. The rumor was that it is refusal
Ia non possimus, a reiteration of the
Russian position that she has given
ample proof Of her desire for peace in
more she could not yield with dignity
and honor.
The message was considered until long
after midnight.
Statement by Pierce.
Mir. Pierce, the third assistant score
tary Of state, last night issued the follow
ing statement:
NO envoy OF representative OF the
president had any conference with Mr.
Witte or Baron De Rosen today, nor
did / have any conference with either
OF them. They had business at the
navy yard and my duties required me
70 be present at the yard to make suit
able arrangements for their comfort. But
in no way, shape or manner did have
any conference with them on behalf Of
the president in relation to their nego,
tiations with Japan.
.'Air. Witte and Baron De Rosen had
intended 60 remain longer in the navy
yard, in consequence Of which | had
luncheon prepared for them, but owing
TO a arrangement Of the stomach from
which he has been suffering for severa
DAYS, Mr.. Witte being under the care Of
a physician at the Wentworth, deemed
it inadvisable to remain for luncheon al
the yard and therefore took his depart
ure at an earlier hour than usual, leay
ing some of his secretaries who contin
ued their work in the conference building
until 1880"