The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-22
CHANGES OF PEACE
ARE IMPROVED
President Roosevelt Makes Last Ef-
fort to Affect ComproniJs.
ARBITRATION NOW PRc7oc-r
II ls Believed RuCsia Now SHOWS
Mlkado's Minimum Terms and FINAL
Word 10 With Czar-Cnvoys Ofcr
Little Hope OF Change.

ElAhiC PN "
Portsmouth. ". H., Aug. Eth
chances OF peace have unaou'leIi!
been improved BY President l;oo.e
volts action In stopping into me
breach In a last heroic endca'or l.
Induce the waIrlng countries ~ CON
promise their "lrrec0nciiabie diner
cnces" but the result Is still Ia sus'
pense.
The Associated Press is able t. an
nonnce that the feature Of the propo-
sition OF President Roosevelt. com
municated through Baron de kosen 10
Mr. Witte. and transmitted by the
latter TO Emperor Nicholas was based
upon the principle OF arbitration
! Whether the proposal contemplates ar
bltration OF all the articles upon wnich
the plenipotentiaries have tailed 70
agree or only upon the question OF IN
demuity cannot be stated with posi-
tiveness. but II IS more than probable
that it relates only TO indemnity or %
/ indemnity and the cessicn Oh the
/ islond Of Saahalln Neither is 1t pos
/ sible 10 say whether the president has
vet made a similar proposition to ia
nan. Acceptance by both sides would
/ involve a great extension Of the prlh-
ciple OF arbitration as nations nave
heretofore declined to arbltrate ques'
/ lions involving their honor and dig
nifty" Both Mr.. Takahira and MT
/ Witte in the earlier stages OF the con
ference absolutely rejected the idea
Of arbitration. and only yesterday both
reiterated their disbelief in such so
luton. Il was noticed. however, that
Mr.. Whites opinion was not expressed
as strongly as il was last week.
The ultimate decision OF the issue
has dc facto (. not de jure passed from
the plenipotentiaries 10 their princi-
nails from Portsmouth ~ ST. Peters
burg and perhaps in lesser extent
TO Toxic. Although there are collat-
eral evidences that pressure. botn by
President Roosevelt and neutral pow
ers including Japans ally. Great B:i-
,elp whose minister. Sir Claude Mac
donald. according 10 advices received
bore. had a long conference with Mr..
hntsara. the Japanese premier Is SIN
u..ag eyerted NJ Toxic 10 induce ia
pan 10 moderate her demands. there
IL also reason TO believe that Presl-
dent Roosevelt was able al this inter
view with Baron de Rosen 10 pracu-
cslly communicate to the latter's
senior. Mr.. Witte. Japan's irreducible
minimum-what she would yield but
the point beyond which she would
not 90.
And in the Russian camp little en-
couragement is given. Baron de Bosen
reached here from Oyster Bay and I'm
mediately went into conference with
Mr.. Witte. They remained closeted to-
eether for almost three hours. during
which the whole situation was re-
viewed Baron de Rosen communl-
Gated to his chief the presidents mes
sage. and It was transmitted to the
emperor. together with Mr.. Whites
recommendation No clue to the ma
ture of this recommendation has trans
pired. But It can be stated that Mr.
Witte no matter how he personally
may view the proposition Is distinctly
pessimistic as TO the character OF the
response which will come from ST
Petersburg.
To a confidential friend he offered
little hope OF a change in the situa-
ton.
The japanese, It is firmly believed,
cling to the substance II not the form
OF it's demand for remuneration for
the cost of the war"
Perhaps they are willing TO decrease
the sum asked but substantial com
pensation. under whatever guise 1t is
obtained. they decline TO relinquish.
And they are also firm upon the ces-
sion OF Sakhalin. BY the transfer OF
the southern branch OF the Chinese
Eastern railroad. first to Japan for
REIMBURSEMENT to China, payment for
the maintenance of the Russian pris-
oners and the surrender OF the Rus
sian warships. 1t is possible to figure
out a total transfer to Japan In money
and property Of about $3.50. 900 900. But
this is the limit.
II is taken for granted that the
presidents appeal was made to Japan
as well as to Russia. but the Japanese
side OF the negotiations looking TO a
compromise is almost completely In
the dark. II is assumed that Baron
Kaneko was able to explain the Japa-
nese views TO the president. II the
president IS successful with Russia 1t
may be that he must then turn to
Japan. That would be the natural
course II he has suggested to Russia
what he regards as a fair compensa-
ton and has undertaken. II Russia
accepts 10 use his influence to induce
japan to accept. But 1t is now prob
able that he was able to assure Mr..
Witte in advance of Japan's agree
ment to accept. Nevertheless, Mr..
Takahira spoke as If he might be
called to Oyster Bay. He would only
say positively that he had as yet re-
ceived no summons
The issue will not necessarily be
decided tomorrow. Indeed, 1t is quite
likely that there may be some delay
in the answer from St Petersburg. in
which case an excuse will be found to
adjourn the meetings over from day
TO day. The Japanese will not be I'm
patient, but the final decision will
without doubt come this week. One
OF the members OF the Japanese mis-
sion expressed the opinion that,
whether a treaty was signed or not,
the conference would complete its
labors by the end of the week.