The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-25

hoALa lille alIE1E oOl III tie EHECf fn9f
Baron kaneko's secretary, Mr.. Sakf.
was here in communication with the
japanese plenipotentiaries and also
with Mr.. Pierce, but investigation de-
veloDed the fact that although Mr..
sak1 had been here a week ago he was
not here today. It has been assent
ed here that in addition TO the Presi-
dents communication to VI. Witte
through Baron de Rosen last Sunday.
and by messenger today, messages di-
rectiy TO Emperor Nicholas have been
delivered by Ambassador Meyer az ST
Petersburg, but no official confirma-
tion Is o~btainable. The general dispo-
sjtion was to regard today's swift and
Kaleidoscope Developments as materf-
ally Frightening the chances of the sue
cess OF the Presidents heroic endeavor
to save the peace conference from fail
IRE. But it was realized that all, as
before, depended upon the attitude of
Emperor Nicholas and his advisors.
". Witte, it is positively stated, per-
sonaliy fayors the solution offered by
the President, but he IS DowerIess I'M
less his imperial master gives the word.
With the most intense anxiety that
word was awaited. 1t spells peace or
var.
Another slight furry was created to-
night by the arrival of Colonel Michael,
the chief clerk of the state department.
He had come i'll response to a sum-
mons from Mr.. Pierce but both Mr..
Pierce and Colonel Michael stated that
the visit was only in connection with
the routine business of the department.
Mr.. Pierce, the third assistant secre-
tary Of state, tonight issued the follow
ing statement:
No envoy or representative of the
President had amy conference with VI.
Witte Or Baron de Rosen today, nor
did | have any conference with either
Of them nor was | closeted with them.
They had business at the navy yard,
and my duties required me TO be pres
ent at the yard to make suitable ar
rangements for their comfort. but in
no way, shape Or manner did | have a
conference with them on behalf Of the
President i'll relation to their negotla-
ton with Japan.
M. White and Baron de Rosen had
intended to remain longer in the navy
yard, in consequence Of which | had
luncheon prepared for them, but owing
to a arrangement Of the stomach from
Which he has been suffering for several
days, NJ. Witte being under the care OF
Il physician at the Wentworth, deemed
it ~inadviSable to remain for luncheon
at the yard and therefore took his de-
parture an earlier hour than usual,
leaving some OF lis secretaries who
continued their work in the conference
building until 100"
The protocol is being prepared III
French by Mr.. Plancon, n OF the
Russian secretaries, in collaboration
with the Japanese secretaries, who
make an English translation CT the
document. The protocol is to be .
faithful photograph of the proceedings,
showing in condensed form the argu-
ments advanced on each side in sup
port of the position taken by each on
the different articles. When the Jap.
anese take an exception to the verbiage
employed by Mr.. PlacOn, the exact
words to be used are agreed to by
them, and if an issue arises which they
cannot adjust, it is referred to the re
spective chiefs, Baron Komura anG II.
Witte. All has thus far gone smoothly.
If a treaty be eventually agreed upon
it will be written in French. with an
English copy attached. But the French
text will be the document signed, and
will govern in case of dispute over in
te~rpretatiOn.
A plan for compromising the differ
ences between the plenipotentiaries on
article 5 (Sakbalin) has been suggest
ed. It contemplates the restoration OF
the status quo existing before 1875,
when Russia held the northern and ia
pan 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
danger of an invasion of the mainland,
which it is declared by the Russians
would exist if the island were in he
full control of the japanese. Such a
solution, of course, would involve some
sort of a mixed commission to delimit
the frontier, which was never definite
ly fixed. This suggestion, in the Cos
sip, is attributed to President Roose-
welt, but no evidence is offered to sup
port such a supposition. Mr.. Briant-
chaninoff, correspondent of the St.
Petersburg Slovo, is advocating this
compromise in his dispatch.