Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-24

2 VcIbOudllly Ol IIcSlucuL ROOScNcII
 looms larger and larger in the crisis.
 He stands between the warning cOun-
 tries insisting that the peace confer
 ence shall not fail. Had he, not step
 ped into the breach the conference
 probably would already have gone to
 pieces Such hope as remains that 1t
 will end in peace and treaty rests
 upon him.
 The strength of the presidents posi-
 ton is that he commands the conf
 dence of both sides. He. has already
 accomplished much, using his good of-
 fees to impress upon each side the
 necessity of mutual concession, and
 both sides have already yielded a
 great deal to his persuasion. Only
 single point still separates them, but
 1t is, as 1t has been at the beginning,
 the crux.
 It was Mir Roosevelt's compromise
 position which Baron KOmura formal
 ly presented at yesterdays meeting
 in which Japan agreed to entirely
 withdraw articles 10 and Il (surren- der of interned warships and limita- ton of Russia's naval force in the far east and to substitute for articles 3 and g (cession of Sakhalin and indem- nty) new article providing for an ar engagement by which Japan should get legal title to the southern half of Sak- halin which she possessed before the treaty of 1875, while Russia should re- deem or repurchase her title to the northern half of the island for 1,200,- 100000 yen, or $6OO,OOO,OOO.
 While it is Mir Roosevelts prOposi- tion in substance, the Associated Press is informed that as offered yesterday. it varies slightly from the terms of the compromise as the president suggested it to both sides. In exactly what par ticular cannot be ascertained. Russia, it can be stated, while rejecting the compromise because it included remu- neration for cost of the war under an other name, was willing and indeed offered to divide the island of Sakha- lin by not only restoring the status quo existing before the treaty of 1875, but to dellmit the frontier and for ever renounce all claims to the south- ern half.
 With articles 10 and II out of the way by Japanese recession and article 5 settled by compromise, the only thing which remained was the indem- nity-the payment of tribute money which has been q stone wall across the path of complete agreement. Under the financial head, Russia offers to pay liberally for the maintenance of the Russian prisoners in Japan. Her ces- son of the Chinese Eastern railroad also will place tidy sum In the Jap anese exchequer, but further thnu that Mir Witte has as yet no instruc- tions to go.
 So the situation stood yesterday when the conference adjourned until Saturday. But the president did not surrender. He carried hls appeal for peace to the throne of the Romanons, to the author of the dream of reduced urmaments and universal peace. Ani- bassador Meyers three hours audience with Emperor Nicholas yesterday dur ing the very time when the plenipo- tentiarles at the navy yard were ex- plainlng to each other their irrecon- cilable differences may have proved the deciding factor. There Is yet no clue to the response Mir Meyer re- ceived from Emperor Nicholas. but 1t is already in President RO0sevelts possession and he is in a position to- day to determine his next step. If the emperor declined absolutely to yield, there may he still time to turn to To ko for fast appeal to forego S3OO.- OOO.0O0 or s4O000O.OO0 rather than pro tract the war indefinitely at the cost of millions in money and thousands of lives. with no surety that she Will ever he able, no matter what her mili- tary successes. to force tribute from her burly adversary.
 Now. too. in the final struggle the influence of the neutral powers. the threats of financiers can be brought to bear to force the cOmbatants to cease the bloody strife which has been gong on for 10 months. The financiers of the world are as potent as nations. No country can conduct military cam paigns with an empty war chest. The money markets of the world have al- ready shown a disposition 10 close their doors to Russia unless she makes peace. In consequence Russia only the other day sought to raise an inter nal loan of S1O0OOO.Oc0. It met with little response. although there is plen- ty of idle money fin Russia. Yesterday the cable brought the report that as the attempt was failure the treasury had resorted to an issue of paper. While a margin of gold reserve for paper issues still remains. It is not large. and foreign bankers could short ly force Russia again upon t.e paper basis from which NIT witte rescued it.
 A failure to respond to Japanese ap- reals for loans would probably place Japan in even a worse position. These in the next few days may prove all powerful
 If can be stated with absolute posi- tivcness now that it was the presi- dents personal message to Emperor Nicholas yesterday. delivered to his majesty in person by Mir Meyer. which | was communicated tO M- Witte and Baron Rosen Tuesday afternoon at the navy yard. The president desired that | the Russian pIenipotentiaries should | be apprised of the step he confem- plsted. and the fact that they. as is understood. approved of it is signifi- | -ant in the extreme President Roose- velt until Tuesday had confined him | self to communicating with N. witfe ,nd Baron ksneko. His role was un- official. He had not put himself in ifrect communication with St Peters buzz and Tokio. Now he has made his | appeal officially. personally. ss the .esi of one state to the head of an ,ther. to Emperor Nicho,ss IT it has | failed there still remains s last sp- ,ezl to the emperor of Japan To-day. superhciaIly st least there is . paus>- M witfe and Baron Rosen were of