The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-21
NHH9H HkHn BOAAb
President Roosevelt Suggests to
the Russian Emperor
That He Take a Dose of His Own
FaTOrite Medicine.
HE CAN DO NO MORE.
If This Last Effort Fail They
Must Fight 1t Out.
Everything Now Waits on the
Reply of the Gar.
HE CAN DO NO MORE.

Portsmouth, N. H, Aug. 21.-The AS
sociated Press is able to announce that
the feature of the proposition of Presi-
dent Roosevelt communicated through
Baron Rosen to M White and by the
latter to Emperor Nicholas was based
on the principles of arbitration.
Whether the president contemplates
arbitration of all the articles on which
the plenipotentiaries have failed to
agree or only on the question of indem-
nifty cannot be stated with positiveness,
but it is more than probable that it re-
lates only to indemnity or to indemnity
and the cession of the island of SAX
hahn. Neither is it possible to say
whether the president has yet made
similar proposition to Japan.
The customary diplomatic proceedings
In such case would be to submit the
proposal simultaneously to both coun-
tries, but there might be an advantage
in securing the adherence of one before
submitting it to the other. To Emperor
Nicholas, the author of The Hague
peace conference, the suggestion of ar
bitration which will necessarily immed-
lately command the sympathy of the
public opinion of the world will be par
ficularly hard to reject If he agrees,
Japan. If it has not already done so, will
be all the more bound to submit its
claim to the decision of an impartial ar
bitrator.
Acceptance by both sides would in
volve a great extension of the principle
of arbitration, as nations have hereto
fore declined to arbitrate questions in
volving their "honor and dignity" Both
Mr.. Takahira and M. White in the early
stages of the conference absolutely re-
5ected the idea of arbitration
The Last Chance.
After a conference lasting for three
hours between NJ. White and Baron
Rosen a dispatch embodying the sub
stance of the proposition submitted by
President Roosevelt to Baron Rosen,
was sent to Emperor Nicholas. The
recommendation of NJ. White went with
the proposition.
Whether an actual basis of cofnpro-
mise was proposed by the president can
not be stated definitely The only thing
that can be affirmed positively is that
If Russia refuses to act upon the sug-
gestion or proposition of President
Roosevelt the peace conference will end
in failure.
No clue to the nature of the reconmen-
dation of NJ. Witte is obtainable. 1t can
be said however, that NJ. White, no mat
osition, is distinctly pessimistic as to the
character of the response which Will come
friend he offered little hope of a change
In the situation.
Although there are collateral evidences
that pressure. both by President Roosevelt
and neutral powers, including Japans al
" Great Britain; whose minister SIR
Claude Macdonald, according to a dis
patch received here, had a long conference
with Mr.. Katsura, the Japanese premier,
is still being eXerted at Toxic to induce
Japan to moderate its demands. There is
also reason to believe that President
Roosevelt was able at this interview with
Baron DeRosen to practicallv COMMUTE
cate to the latter's senior. NJ. Witte. ia
pans irreducible minin2um-what It
would YIELD but the point Beyond which 1t
would not 60
The Japanese. it is firmly believed. will
cling to the substance of the form of this
demand for remuneration for the cost
of the war" Perhaps they are willing to
decrease the sum asked. but substantial
compensation under whatever guise it is
obtained they decline to relinCuish.
Firm as to SakhaIin.
They are also firm upon the cesson of
Sakhalin. By the transfer of the Southern
branch of the Chinese Eastern railway,
first to Japan for REIMBURSEMENT to China,
payment for the maintenance of Russian
prisoners and the surrender of the Rus
sian warships, it is possible to figure out
a total transfer to Japan in money and
property of about 250 million dollars But
this is the limit.
The Japanese as usual are very reticent
and It IS impossible to obtain from them
the least indication of their views of the
presidents action.
It is taken for granted that the presi-
dent s appeal was made to Japan as we'll
as to Russia, but the japanese side of the
negotiations looking to, compromise is
almost completely in the dark
1t is assumed that Baron KaneIxo
was able to explain the japanese views
to the president. If the president is
successful with Russia it may be that
he must then turn to Japan That
would be the natural course if he has
suggested to Russia what he regards
as fair compromise and has under
taken, if Russia accepts, to use his in
huence to induce Japan to accept. But
1t is now probable that he was able
to assure NJ. Witte in advance of
Japan's agreement to accept. Never
theless Mr.. Takahira today spoke as
if he might be called to Oyster Bay.
had as yet received no summons.
The Japanese View.
The Japanese view of the situation
is authoritatively but rather humor-
ously stated thus:
The result will be known soon. 1t is
useless to speculate. AS well for the
physician to give his opinion of the
sex of the unborn infant. When the
child is born we will be able to tell
whether it is a boy or girl.
Emperor Nicholas, decision upon
which the fate of the conference seems
now to hang, will, according to the best
Informed Russians, depend upon -condi-
tions at home and these conditions they
do not believe are propitious. The two
big factors are the internal conditions
and the reports from the front as to
the military situation. The former has
been ameliorated by Saturdays mani
AC1bO anu tAAC CAAGl6 CACA III lAtt ISBOIlS
received by his majesty from Manchuria
are known to be accordingly good.
General Linevitch has expressed abso-
lutte confidence in victory. and since the
conference began he and his generals
have not only treasured the ear that
the army was never in better condition,
but they have sent messages to NJ
White imploring him not to make peace
They demand an opportunity to retrieve
the Honor and prestige of the army,
and in a country where the army is the
bulwark of the government the wishes
of its generals are not likely to be dis
regarded by their sovereign.
A Difficult Task.
Not only to make peace. but to pay
tribute to the enemy would therefore be
a very difficult task for the emperor,