The San Francisco call., 1905-08-26
Doggedly Refuse
to Make Change
in Demands.
Russians Stand by
Their Guns and Will
Not Alter Terms.
Hope for Peace Now Rests
With President and
Two Emperors.

Japan wants peace, hut we want
peace with Justice. Russia wants peace
with honor. Those desires are not in
compatible. We may have pence yet.
L hope sO.--F'rom an interview with
Baron kOmura. at Portsmouth to-day.
ST. PETERSBURG. Aug. 26, 2 N. NJ
Everybody In st. Petersburg IL await-
Ing the Developments of to-day In the
peace moves and hoping that COM
promise Is being effected, the most
likely basis of which IL Ia believed
would be no Indemnity, but a payment
for Saghallcn to be left for future adj
justmenf. 1t had been asserted yester-
day in an exceptionally well informed
quarter that this WAS the only possible
basis for compromise.
The belief Is expressed In some quar-
ters that there will be no session af
Portsmouth to-day. II is said ON ex-
ce1lent authority that n further ad-
tournament could be taken a. n most
hopeful sign, IL would prove that
serious efforts looking to a eompron,ise
were continuing Up TO o'clock last
evening Embassador Meyer had re-
PORTSMOUTH. n. H, Aug 25.-The
peace conference tonight seems head
ed straight for the rocks Despite the
fact that every question of principle
involved in the quarrel between the
two countries has been settled in favor
OF the victor and that apparently only
words and money still separate
them, the negotiations seem on the
verge of fnal rupture. The air was
filled tonight with gloomy forebodings.
as superhcially everything indicated
that Io-morrow's session OF the con-
ference will prove the Seance adieU.
In the most positive fashion 1t is de-
clared that no instructions had reached
Mr.. de Witte up to this evening which
would permit him TO entertain the
compromise proposals submitted by
Baron komura and therefore unless
Japan has new proposal TO make to-
morrow all that seems to remain is for
the envOys TO meet. sign a declaration
that the conference has completed its
labors. shake hands and part
But there are still unknown factors
in the case which might change
the situation The result of President
RooseveIts second appeal direct to the
Czar has not transpIred and the result
of the pressure on Japan to alter the
form of her proposal by the elimina-
tion OF the purchase price of the north
ern half of Sashalien is not known.
UNCHANGED ATTITUDE.
Press dispatches from Toxic and St.
Petersburg are read with the utmost
interest here, Indicate an Interchangeable
attitude on the part Of both Govern
ments Yet both are anxious for peace,
it is said.
Probably not more than $500. 600
stands in the way. Yet the japanese
cling doggedly to their demands. Their
people at home insist upon it,
The most competent Japanese au-
thority. who did not conceal his pessim-
ism, when asked tonight whether for
the sake of peace Japan would yield
further. replied:
Read the dispatches from Toxic and
draw your own conclusions"
Nevertheless. there is warrant for the
statement that the Japanese are not
as implacable as they appear. and from
a conversation had tonight the distinct
impression was gathered that they
would scale their money demand and
use another formula which would be
acceptable to Russia
1t is believed the japanese intend to
let the conference end tomorrow.
On the Russian side all pretense OF
claiming that Mr.. de Witte IS any
longer negotiating Is abandoned. He
has gone to the furthermOst limit OF his
imperial masters orders More. he can
not do sincerely as he personally may
desire to bring the negotiations TO
successful conclusion His position Is
a diffcult and peculiar one. He is
statesman of large ambition Liberal
at heart, he is as yet a servant OF his
sovereign At the present Juncrure his
role is described as like that OF Mira
beau He stands between. the King
and his people He Obeys the sover-
eign. but he wants his people TO know
where the responsibility for the fate of
the negotiations must rest AT the
same time he cannot himself take a
drm stand against his sovereign For
this reason. and the authenticated his
tory of this conference viii bear out
this statement, he preferred when first
appealed to by Mr. Roosevelt. TO have
the latter go straight to the Emperor
With his suggestion Though perhaps
in full sympathy with President Roose-
veft. TO have himself appear in sup
mort of it too ardently or to have open
lv indorsed IL against mis- instructions.
might. considering the influences about
the court which are personally hostile