The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-08-29
WILL JAPAN
MODIFY DEMANDS
Peace Negotiations Still Deadlocked
by "Words and Money"
uR. ROOSEVELT STILL HOPEFUL

Appeal to the Gar Was Partially Re'
sponsive ard Another Adjournment
Of Peace ENJOYS Is Looked For
Negotiations In the Hands Of the
TWO Erlperors.
Portsmouth. y. H., Aug. 2G.-The
Associated Press is permitted TO an
noun,e that Emperor Nicholas an
sver IN President RoOseyelts latest
appeal was partially responsive.
DESPITE the fact that every question
Of principle involved in the quarrei
between the two countries has been
settled in favor Of the victor. and that
in reality only words and money
still separate them. the negotiations
seem ON the verge OF a final rupture.
The air is FILED with gloomy torebod-
ings. as specifically everything indi-
Gated that todays session OF the con
ference will prove the "seance
d'adieu." In the most positive fashion
il is declared that no new instructions
had reached Mr.. Witte which would
hermit him to entertain the condition
Of the compromise proposition sub
mitted by Komura on Wednesday. and
therefore unless Japan has new pro
posal to make. all that seems 10 re-
main is for the plenipotentiarues 10
meet sign a declaration that the CON
ference has completed its labors, shake
hands and part as enemies. not as
friends.
But there are still unknown factors
in the situation which in a twinhling
might change the situation. The re-
srlt of President RoOsevelts appear
direct to Emperor Nicholas has not
transpired. and the result Of the pres
sure ON japan 70 alter the form OF her
proposal by the elimination .of the
purchase price of the northern hair
of Sakhalin is not known. But the III
dications on both scores are not reas-
surfing.
The press dispatches from Toxic
and St. Petersburg read with the
most intense interest here, indicate an
intransigent attitude on the part OF
both governments. Yet both are anN-
ious for peace. and only words and
money" bar the path. Probably 1t Is
NOT matter of more than 100000 900.
Yet the japanese cling doggedly TO
/ their demands.
Nevertheless there is warrant TOT
the statement that they are not as I'M
placable as they appear, and from
conversation had by the Associated
Press the distinct impression was
gathered thar they would scale their
money demand and use any 'formu-
lac" which would be acceptble to Rus
STA. It is not believed they propose
TO let the conference end today.
On the Russian side all pretense OF
claiming that MIR. White is any longer
NEGOTIATING has been abandoned. He
has gone to the furtheromst limit OF
his imperial masters orders. More ne
cannot do. sincerely as he personally
NAV desire to bring the negotiations
TO a successful conclusion. His posi-
ton is a difficult and peculiar one. lie
is a statesman of large ambition. Lib
eral at heart, he is yet a servant OF his
sovereign. At the present juncture his
role is described as that OF Mirabeau
He stands between the king and his
people He Obeys his sovereign. but
he wants his people to know where the
responsibility for the fate Of the nego-
tiations must rest. At the same time
he cannot himself take firm stand
against his sovereign. AS a politician
Mr.. Witte might not relish the idea OF
having it said when he returned to
Russia that he has made bad peace.
He might prefer the emperor to Shout
der that responsibility. Mr.. White gave
absolutely no encouragement to the
idea that there would be a change OF
heart at st. Petersburg. Unless Toxic
was ready to recede further, he ex-
pressed the opinion that all was over.