Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-08-25

they rented & combination safe for their
papers at the hotel to take out the safe
and render the:- bill this afternoon.
President Sees Mikado's Agent.
Oyster Bay, L. l., Aug. 21.-An unex-
pected phase of the peace negotiations
developed today in the arrival here of
Baron Kaneko, a special representative
in this country of the japanese govern
ment for a conference with President
Roosevelt. Baron kanekos visit, it is
known, was arranged hurriedly.
The baron arrived ON the Long Island
railroad train due here at 10:11, but as
the train was twenty-five minutes late it
was IL o'clock before he reached Saga
more Hill. No other visitors have en-
gagements with the President today.
Decline to Talk
Baron kaneko remained with the
President three-quarters of an hour. He
then drove back to Oyster Bay and
boarded the 1920 p. N. train for New
York
Before his departure Baron Kaneko
declined to discuss his conference with
the President. He said he did not meet
the Presldent as a representative of the
japanese government and wished it to
cal representative.
Baron Kaneko said he had no infor-
nation as to the attitude of the Russian
ENJOYS or the Russian government to-
ward the proposition made by President
Roosevelt to Baron Rosen. He init
mated that Japan might regard the
proposition favorably but could not say
so definitely.
Il think we will know tomorrow aft
ernoon at 3 o'clock when the .plenipoten-
haries meet in Portsmouth" he said
by that time they will have determined
the matter"
President Roosevelt declines to dis
cuss the peace negotiations.
Enjoys Are Busy.
Portsmouth, n. H, Aug. 21.-This
would have been an ideal day to nego-
tate peace. 1t is an even pleasanter day
to bask in the warm sunshine on the
yeranda and this is what many of the
attaches of both missions are doing The
principals, however, Baron Komura and
Mr.. Takahira and Mr.. Witte have no
time for recreation. Before breakfast
this morning, Mr.. Witte, although he
was not feeling well was hard at work
and he scarcely stopped while breakfast
was served to him in his room. Baron
De Rosen had not returned from Mag
nolia.
Await Fateful Cablegrams.
No plans for either mission have been
announced today, but as both are expect
ing cablegrams from their home govern
ments which may decide the fate of the
negotiations it is unlikely that they will
go far from the hotel today. The Dol
phin had received orders to sail for Bos-
ton and will probably get under way
this morning. 1t is assumed here she
will later return here III case the ENJOYS
upon the conclusion of their labOrs wish
to return to New York by water.
The Mayfiower will remain through
out the conference.
Protocols Nearly Ready.
Both the Russians and Japanese have
almost finished the preparation OF the
protocols to be submitted at the meeting
of the conference tomorrow afternoon.
reasons advanced by both sides for the
divergence of views on the articles on
which no agreement was reached.
In Article Five, the cession of SAX
halin. the Japanese claim that they are
entitled to the island as we'll by reason
of their national rights to its possession
as because OF its present occupation by
the Japanese forces. The Russians on
the contrary insist that up to 1890 Japan
had never claimed any right to Sakhalin
and at that time only twenty-five I'M
married japanese lived in the south of
the island during the fishing season
Admiral PeOutiatine opened the eyes of
the Japanese to the value of Sakhalin
when he went there in 1851 and initiated
negotiations for the possession of the
entire island by Russia. 1t was then
that Japan in order to make good her
claims, tried to coloniZe the island and
stated that the Aino race which. lives
there belonged to the same family as the
original inhabitants of the northern is
lands of Japan.
Japs Failed On Island
In 1859 Mouravieff, governor general
of Amur, tried to persuade Japan to
yield in her claim to the south part of
Sakhalin. but they did not succeed. as
the Americans had already begun to
support the japanese in their attitude
against Russia. The reports of all the
Russian consuls in Sakhalin up to the
year 1870 stated that the japanese effort
to colonize the island had failed because
of the rigorous climate. The negotia-
tons between Russia and Japan started
in 1865 and continued for twenty wears
ending with the treaty of 1875 by which
the sovereignty Of Russia over the whole
island was recognized.
The Indemnity Question.
With regard to Article Nine, the pro-
tocol repeats the arguments already set
~
Press dispatches. The Japanese claim
reimbursement for the expenses of the
war on the ground that they were forced
by RuSSlaS aggreSSionS to resort to arms
for self preservation and having been
victorious at all points on sea and land
are entitled to reimbursement. Russia
on the contrary. denies absolutely that
Japan is in a position to dictate such a
condition, as Russia does not acknOwl-
edge defeat and appears at the confer
ence not imploring mercy but because
OF her love Tor peaC- al willingness to
conclude on an honorable basis. Russia
declares that q claim for indemnity I'M
der the circumstances. is unprecedented
and reviews the historical occasions
where indemnity was paid in support of
her contentious. Most of these prece-
dents have already been made public in
connection with a recent Associated
Press interview with Mr. Martens
The protocol also states that Russia
throughout her history has never paid a
the Great invaded the Muscovite empire
IN 1872 and occupied Moscow.
Spells of War
With regard to Article Ter (the IN
termed warships), Japan insists that the
surrender of the interned warships
which have sought refuge in neutral
ports. as a spoil of war is not contrary
tc international law.
Russia. however. asserts that interna-
tiOllal law affords no precedent for
claim for the possession of property now
in the safe-keeping of neutral govern
ment. Finally with regard to Article
Eleven the elimination of the Russian
JUSTICE OF PEACE FINED.
Cleveland, o., Aug. 21.-Judge