The San Francisco call., 1905-08-28
Komura Is Awaiting
Word From the
Mikado.
ONE HOPE LEFT
Victorious Islanders
! May Grant Con
cessions.

20 hang by a thread, but the thread will
not be broken tomorrow. AT 10 o'clock
tonight. after an hours conference be-
tween Mr.. Takahira and Mr.. de Witte,
il the latter's room in the hotel annex,
the announcement Of a postponement
was made. Mr.. de Witte explained after
ward that Mr.. Takahira had told him
that no new instructions had reached
him from Toxic, and, fearing none might
BE- received before the meeting scheduled
for tomorrow afternoon Mr.. Takahira
had suggested the propriety Of postpon-
ing the meeting until Tuesday To this,
Mr.. de Witte said, he had readily assent
O. Mr.. Takahira made the following
statement 10 the press:
'Inasmuch as this conference was ini-
uste6 by the friendly Office Of your
President, after consultation, we felt
that we should be cautious about termi-
mating its labors."
Pressed as TO whether he regarded the
situation as hopeless. Mr.. Takahira said:
mo, not hopeless, but almost hopeless.
This in itself. from one who has spoken
always in the most guarded fashion, is
sufficient TO show the desperateness of
the situation The real crisis in the ne
gotiations is at hand 1t is very acute,
but If it can be tided over a few days
Without a rupture q basis of peace ac-
csptable 70 both sides may come very
suddenly.
NOW 1T Is "UP- TO JAPAN.
But. TO save the situation now. Japan
must speak. II on Tuesday she has moth
ing TO offer all is over.
Mr. de Witte, even If he would, is pow
-eI less TO take a new step. His hands are
tied. He now occupies the role of an i'm
perial messenger. who transmits his mas
ter's orders 10 Baron komura and Baron
konura turns them over to Toxic for
The response. The conference room has
ceased 70 be e place for negotiations 1t
is simply the place where the Emperors
Of the warning countries exchange their
ccmmUnicauons by the hands of the en-
voys.
And upon the principle of indemnity. or
reimbursement for ~frais de guerre, un-
DER any disguise, Emperor Nicholas has
g5ven the japanese Emperor his last
word. Mr. de Witte accepts il as final.
and in writing yesterday Informed the
japanese plenipotentiaries that Russia
would have nothing further to say upon
this subject. Russia would cede one-half
Of Ssghalien and pay the cost of the
maintenance Of the Russian prisoners,
hut that was all. Emperor Nicholas had
given the same response TO the President
through ambassador Meyer.
The Russians generally seem not dis
pleased with the situation They believe
japan has been diplomatically maneu-
Vered into a corner from which. II she
now persists in her attempt TO exact
tribute with the alternative of continu-
ance OF the war. she cannot extricate
herself before the public opinion of the
world.
JAPANESE ENJOYS WORRIED.
Japan here and in Europe. they say,
appealed for sympathy on the ground
that Russia had compelled her to take
upAarrns 10 protect her life. The fortune
oT war had gone in her favor. and Rus
2, c1ae had
and preferring peace to the continuation
cf the war. had agreed TO cede on every
rainf involved in the quarrel.-She is will
ing 10 allow Japan full swing in Korea /;
she was willing TO get out OF Manchurla.
bag and baggage. and TO commit herself
70 the recognition of China's integrity
and the policy Of the open door But
Japan. insisting upon tribute, because
Russia refused proiongs the carnage. In
that act they contend, Japan would
change the purpose and character OF the
var. which would cease TO be one OF prln-
ciplc and degenerate into war Ior the
exaction of money.
There Is no doubt that the japanese are
worried over this aspect of the situation,
and they do not propose to be placed IN
this position II ii can be helped
with the sentiment existing in Japan
demanding reimbursement for the eX-
r,enses Of the war, a money payment be-
vond what would be obtained for the
,nsfufeuance Of Russian prisoners and the
Chinese Eastern Railroad could not be
4oregoue But If redemption by Russia
could be placed upon purely a CONNER
cisl hasis Russia might agree TO IT, Logic
points in this direction for the ultimate
conpromise. If there is 10 be one
PRESIDENTS EFFORTS BALkED.
whether the President has renewed his
efforts cannot be ascertained here. His
former suggestion for a compromise
failed He made his appeal simultan-
eouslv 10 both the Car and the emperor
OF Japan He proposed the lnoeInnlly-
Saehalien'' combination, but not IN the
form in which IL was presented by Baron
Konura at Wednesdays meeting. IN
sreaS Of setting the price 1.2oO.o 600 yen,
sra(esffmsted cost Of the war; he sug-
oeSled that II an agreement could not
be reached. the fixing Of the price snoulo
he left 10 a board or commission. The
Tananese insisted on inserting the sum
and thus made II Impossible. In view
Of the Russian declaration, not TO ac-
cent A. Emperor Nicholas refused 10 go
farther. in addition 10 the concessions al
ready made. than to agree to the ces-
sion of one-half of Saghalien.
according to a high Russian authority,
Who has been in a position TO see Presl-
dent Roosevelt's communication propos-
ing a compromise. 1t quite clearly showed
tbst the President considered that
Janan's victories gave her the right 70
ask for an indemnity in fact. II not IN
name. and was also entitled TO SagnaDen'
and .hat her military occupation Of Sag
halien gave her the right TO the island
The PRESIDENTS friends, however, claim
that when the full text Of his propo-
sition IS before the world, all criticism
must cease II Is well, therefore. again
10 repeat the statement telegraphed last
night, which came from one IN run pos
seseson Of the entire action taken by
President Roosevelt:
s.If the civilized world could know al
this time the precise nature of the propo-
sitfonS made TO Russia and japan by
PreH6ent Roosevelt. IL would seem that
the force OF public opinion, OF the great
,,e,,sraf orsrfon of the world. would in