Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-22
HANGS IN THE BALANCE
Glimmer of Hope in Deferred
Meeting of ENJOYS
Up AT PORTSMOUTH
RUSSIANS ARE AWAITING FINAL
WORD FROM THE CzAR.
Not Likely to Yield to Peace Impor-
tunitles-Concession Inconsistent
With Dignity and Honor.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H.. August 22.-lstl-
other glmmer of hope The meeting of the
peace plenipotentiaries which was to have
been held this afternoon has been postponed
until tomorrow morning at 9:3O. The Off
cial reason assigned for this change of pro-
gram was that the secretaries had not yet
completed the work of drafting the proto-
coils for submission for the signatures OF the
plenpotentiaries. This is true, but there
is a more potent reason. NJ. Witte has not
yet received the final word from St.
Petersburg.
1t was expected this morning 1t did not
come and therefore with M Whites au-
tEorization, Mr.. Plancon, who was hard at
work upon the Russian protocol, went to
Mr.. Sato. the Japanese secretary. and sug-
gested the postponement. Baron Komura
approved and the announcement was is
sued.
Present Peace Status.
AS the situation now stands Mr.. Witte
could not, If he would cede compromise
on either article (Sakhalin) article .
Indemnity. The instructions given him by
the emperor before he left St. Petersburg
precluded the possibility of either, and 1t
can be stated that up to the present hour
every message he has received, Indirectly
or directly, from his emperor, shows no
sign of any change of mind. And from the
private advices the advisors whom the en-
peror is consulting seem practically unani-
nous in support of the view that further
concessions are inconsistent with Russia
dignity and honor" and that unless Japan
is prepared to yield something substantial
not upon articles 10 or II, but upon articles
and 9-it is better to continue the war.
Although II seems to be hoping against
hope. there is still a possibility that the
emperor will take President Roosevelt's
advice and take the only step which the
President thinks can save the conference
from shipwreck. The Presidents sugges-
ton is not general and vague, but quite
concrete. If 1t is finally rejected it is said
not TO involve a specific answer, but NJ
Witte Is anxious that the emperor shall
have full time to deliberate. and the Japa-
nese have no desire to force the issue
They Will welcome few days delay It the
delay keeps The door to peace open.
There is a strong intimation that the
japanese are prepared to make a propo-
sition when the conference reassembles
But there is nothing to Indicate that they
are prepared to recede on either articles 8
but that would hardly bring peace nearer.
Five and nine remain now, as at the be-
ginning, the seemingly insurmountable OBJ
stacles to peace.
Article 10 of Japan's demands provides
that the Russian warships interned in neu-
trail ports shall be turned over to Japan.
Article IL calls for the limitation of Rus
sia's naval power in the far east.
Official Bulletin.
The following official bulletin was issued
at 1920 am:
Owing to the impossibility of finishing
before o'clock this afternoon the work OF
preparing the protocols of the meetings Of
the conference todays meeting has been
adjourned until $50 o'clock Wednesday
morning.
Conference With Roosevelt Representa-
tive.
At o'clock today a personal representa-
tive of President Roosevelt was closeted
with NJ. Witte and Baron Rosen in the
naval general stores at the navy yard The
appointment for the conference was made
through Secretary Peirce last night 1t Is
not yet known who the emissary of the
President is.
This sensation Is yet unknown at the
Wentworth. Since 1890 o'clock the cor
respondents have been waiting on the
veranda of NJ Whites apartments, where
he had an appointment to meet them at
Nat hour TO be photographed with them
Ihey awaited his coming for half and hour
and then dispersed. and every one is won
dering where NJ. Witte is and whether he
forgot his engagement.
tt conference is supposed to have begun
about half-past II. NJ Witte and Baron
de Rosen left the hotel this morning in an
automobile supposedly for a ride Mr.
Peirce has not been at the hotel since this
morning, and it is supposed is also at the
navy yard. where he may have received
the Presidents envoy and presented him TO
the plenipotentiaries.
Preparation of the Protocol
The protocol is being prepared in French
by Mr.. Plancon, one of the Russian secre-
taries. in collaboration with the Japanese
secretaries, who make an English transla-
tion of the document. The protocol is 10
be a faithful photograph of the proceedings
showing In condemned form the arguments
advanced on each side in support of the
position taken by each on the different arti-
cles.
When the Japanese take an exception 10
the yerbiage employed by Mr. Plancon the
exact words to be used are agreed to by
them, and IL an issue arises which they
cannot adjust ii Is referred to the respect
I've chiefs, Baron komura and NJ Wtte
All has thus far gone smoothly. Should a
treaty eventually be agreed upon IL will be
written In French with an English COPY at
tached. But the French text will be the
document signed and win govern In case
OF dispute over Interpretation.
Plan for Compromise.
A plan for compromising the differences
between the plenipotentiaries on article o
(Sakhalin) has been suggested. 1t contem-
plates the restoration of the status quo 'ex-
tsting before 1875. when Russia held the
northern and Japan the southern part OF
the island. This. it is contended, should
satisfy the national claims of Japan, and
at the same time relieve Russia of the dan
ger of an invasion of the mainland which
1t is declared by the Russians would exist
II the island were in the full possession oi
the Japanese.
Such a solution, of course, would involve
some sort of mixed commission to de-
limit the frontier, which was never def
nitely fixed. This suggestion in the gossip
No 4t.fl tod Poo btrf
evidence Is offered to support such sup
position. Mr.. Briantchaninof. correspon
dent of the st. Petersburg Slovo Is advo-
eating this compromise in his dispatches.
True Reason for Postponement.
After the newspaper men had been
waiting about an hour for NJ Witte and
Baron de Rosen to keep their appointment
TO be photographed IN a group one OF the
Russian attaches leisurely sauntered up and
suggested that inasmuch as NJ. Witte and
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