The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-25
Halter Is Out of the Hands OF
the ENJOYS.
PARLEYING.
With President RooseveltActing
as a Mediator.
Indemnity Continues to Be the
Only Obstacle.

Portsmouth, Aug. 25.-The prospects
1Dr peace seem desperate but they are
not hopeless despite the prevailing pes
a3mism. There Is still a chance and the
forces working for peace are continuing
their labors. The president failed
twice, but he is fighting on. The re-
salt OF Ambassador Meyers audience at
Seterhof was unsatisfactory but at
least it was not a rebuff. 1t left the
door open. and within few hours after
the receipt at Oyster Bay of Meyers
account of his audience the president
had seen q new appeal through Mr..
WHITE who received it from Mr.. PIERCE
about this morning. The emperor had
IA effect declined the proposition of COM
promise offered by Japan. He had re-
fused it because under disguise Japan
offered to withdraw an article asking
remuneration for the cost OF the war on
condition that Russia repurchase from
the military possession of Japan the
northern part Of Sakhalin at fixed
price 1000. 100000 yen-the estimated
~frais de guerre.''
Every message received from Peter
tof, including those that came early to-
6ay, was inhexible upon that point.
Had Japan not inserted the sum; had
that been left for future adjustment the
proposition would undoubtedly have
proved more palatable. And the Asso-
dated Press is IN q position to state
80 suggested by the president and as
offered by Japan at the conference
touched this very point. The president
did not suggest any price the fixing
o. a price, and it is believed although
Tits can not be affirmed, that his latest
effort was to secure the consent OF the
emperor to agree to accept the Japa-
11ese proposition with the amount sub
3eot to future adjustment by an arbi-
tratfon board or otherwise. According
10 the Japanese, Mr.. White has already
offered to divide Sakhalin. If the re-
purchase of Sakhalin was based upon
pslrchasable basis the following lines
from the authorized statement of the
Russian position given to the Associated
Press last night should be borne in
mind:
'An that Japan does is to join the
question of Sakhalin with that Of a cash
payment and to insist upon war costs
under the name of purchase money. The
transaction is fictitious and the termin-
ology misleading. If what is proposed
be in truth a purchase and sale. it
should be treated as such and therefore
should Russia decline to buy the terri
tory. Japan should keep it and conclude
peace on the basis of the concession al
ready made"
Japan it is believed would make the
further concession suggested if the
emperor would commit himself to this
solution. This statement is based on
the words of the japanese authority
most competent to speak When
asked if it was correct as reported that
the Japanese had said their last word
and that all hope was over, lie re-
Piled:
mo, we have not declared our prop
osition of Wednesday was our ire
ducible minimum. We are not assun1-
ing a threatening attitude. That is
not the way to make peace
But the plenipotentiaries themselves
no longer control on either side. The
negotiations have passed from their
hands to their principals at Peterhof
port continues to be cried here that
Emperor William has been one of the
main obstacles to a peace; that While
ostensdbly in sympathy with the presi-
dents efforts, he is advising Emperor
Nicholas not to yield. The foundation
Tor this belief is the fact, which ap-
pears fully confirmed that NJ. Whites
instructions were made more impera-
tive and intransigient upon the ques-
ton of indemnity and cession of terri
tory after the kaiser's interview with
the Russian emperor in the gulf of
Finland. Beyond this no evidence is
offered. It is significant that M
WHITE made it a point to express his
disbelief in the report from st. Peters,
burg which caused considerable con-
sternation here, that Count Lamsdorff
had authorized Reuters agent to de-
clare that Russia under no circum-
stances would pay contribution,
either direct or indirect, or make any
ceSsion of territory whatever. NJ
Witte said he could not imagine that
Count Lamsdorn could have author
ICED such a statement without inform
ing him (Witte).
-AH ERA "A RsREA RAmaan