The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-19
PIenipotentiaries as Far
Apart as the Poles.
PESSlMlSM THE NOTE
Neither Side Would Yield an Inch,
China Has Become. Party to the
Peace Negotiations. No Prog
ress Made Yesterday at
Portsmouth.
(By the Associated Press.)

Z
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 1.-THE
crisis in the peace conference has been
reached and pessimism is again the
note.
But the darkest hour is just before
the dawn and there is still hope.
Predictions of final rupture tomor-
row certainly will not be justified un-
less Baron Komura figuratively picks
up his hat and announces that it Is
useless to proceed further. Mr.. White
at least will not be precipitate. At
tomorrow's session, after article IL
(the limitation of Russia's sea power
in the Far East and article IL, (fish-
ing rights on the Russian littoraD are
disposed of, he will favor an adjourn
ment until Monday to hear the last
word from st. Petersburg.
The pessimiSm tonight is based upon
the fact that no progress was made
today. The exchange of views at the
morning session upon article Gre
enumeration for the "cost of the war;
showed at once that the plenipoten-
tiaries were as far apart as the poles.
and it was passed over. Article 10
(the surrender of the interned RUS
sian warships) was also passed. not in
the opinion of one of the plenipoten-
tiaries when the Associated Press cor
respondent saw him tonight, because
it could not have been arranged, but
because, with the shadow of the two
main points in dispute hanging over
the conference, both sides were eau
tious and preferred to postpone it to
the end. Article IL Qimitation of
sea power) is also adjustable after
modification, and article IL will resent
no difficulties. So that tonight the
situation was practically what it was
when Mr.. Witte last Saturday present
ed the Russian reply with its non
possumus to article and 8 indem-
nifty and Sakhalin).
The only chance Is now compromise
Russia to yield Sakhalin and Japan
indemnity. Neither will yield both
and perhaps Japan, at the final show
of hands. will yield neither. Mr..
White, under the imperial indications
contained in the instructions given
him before he left st. Petersburg. can
agree neither to pay war tribute nor
cede foot of Russian soil. ST. Peters
burg, therefore, on the last resort, re-
mains to be heard from. Doubtless
this is the reason why he favors a
postponement tomorrow over Sunday.
Baron Komura probably will welcome
an adjournment of two days in order
that he also may lay the situation be-
fore his government for it's final de-
Cision.
The sudden revival of deep pessim-
ism tonight was induced by the re-
port given out when the plenipOten-
tiaries returned to the hotel, that no
progress had been made today. But
to those inside that was not surprising.
Things have gone smoothly enough.
only the impasse had been reached
there had been the CLINT of cold steel
In the conference chamber. And the
few words Mr.. White said to the for
eign newspaper correspondents was,
as usual not encouraging. He looked
tired and said nothing had been ac-
cOmplished.
Tomorrow" he said, 1--WE will finish
articles IL and H."
What then?" he was asked.
Then we will go to dinner" he re-
piled as he excused himself to go to
dine at Assistant Secretary Peirces.
No very great hope was vouchsafed
In the Japanese camp.
1--WE are not buffers said Mr.
Sato, and from an authoritative source
the Associated Press correspondent
received distinctly bad impression
regarding the outlook.
A very important conference occur
red in Mr.. Whites rooms shortly be-
fore midnight. There were present
Baron De. Rossen, the other Russian
plenipotcntiary and Messrs. De Mar
tens, General Yermaleff, Mr.. Pokoti-
loft, Mr.. Shipoff and Captain Rous-
sine. the five Russian delegates 1t is
the first time full meeting of pleni-
pOtentiaries and delegates has been
held since the conference began. The
preliminary discussion of the apanese
conditions is already virtually ended.
1t is not improbable that the final re-
port and recommendations of the Rus
san plcnipotentiaries were passed
uron and transmitted tonight to the
Emperor at Peterhof 1t can be
stated that the individual views of the
members of the Russian mission differ
Us to what point should be yielded If a
compromise is to be offered. Some
favor the surrender of Sakhalin,
others an indemnity. None are ready
TO give up both points.