The San Francisco call., 1905-08-10
Doubt Raised by
ENJOYS First
Meeting.
Belief That Japanese
Demands Will Be
Rejected.
Private Interviews Give In
timation of De Whites
Probable Action.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H, Aug. 9.-With
the probability that Baron Komura will
tomorrow reveal to the Russian plenipo-
tentiaries the terms upon which Japan is
willing to conclude peace, opinion as to
the outcome, among those who are con-
gregated mere to watch the proceedings,
has become decidedly pessimiStic. This
is due to the growing conviction that
Japan's conditions will not prove as mod
crate as were at one time expected, and,
especially in the matter of indemnity,
may preclude the possibility of their ac-
ceptance by the Russian ENJOYS as basis
for negotiation.
The firm attitude of Mr.. de Witte, in
private conversation, against the payment
of indemnity and the insistent report
emanating from Japanese quarters that
stiff war contribution, approximating the
cost of the war, variously stated at from
six hundred TO eight hundred million dol
lars, constitutes one of Japans demands,
indicate wide, if not an irreconcilable
difference between Japan's irreducible
minimum and what Russia is prepared to
accept.
Upon the question of the payment of
a large indemnity, the instructions of the
Russian plenipotentiaries are believed TO
admit of no concessions. although it is
possible certain compensation in kind
might be arranged. For instance, it is
the island of Saghalien, now potentially
in Japanese hands, the possession of
which by Japan would give her command
of the whole Siberian littoral, Russia
could with propriety pay large sum.
KOMURA CAUSES A DELAY.
Gloomy forebodings, however, may be
premature at this juncture, as every
thing indicates that the plenipotentiaries
upon both sides are sincerely desirous of
concluding a treaty of peace.
The first meeting of the plenipotentiaries
to-day was of an entirely informal char
acter-so informal, in fact that Baron
Komura did not bring his letter of Gre
dence to the Portsmouth Navy Yard,
whereas Mr.. de Witte was armed with
the original document, in Russian, set
ting forth the powers conferred upon him,
and also with a translation of the docu-
ment The latter he read Baron Komu-
ra was embarrassed and offered to send
back to the hotel for his communication,
but Mr.. de Witte expressed his faith that
the credentials were full and ample, and
it was arranged that the official exchange
of credentials should be made tomorrow.
Later in the afternoon, however copies
of the credentials were informally ex-
changed, in order that they might be
examined before the meeting tomorrow.
1t is known that the credentials differ
slightly. In exactly what respect could
not be ascertained tonight, but the press
is assured by both the Japanese and
Russian emissaries that the difference is
not essential and constitutes no obstacle
to the official opening Of the negotia-
tions. Indeed, the President was officially
informed tonight that the credentials
were fully ample and satisfactory to
both sides.
PROGRAMME MAPPED OUT.
1t was decided to-day to hold two daily
sesions-one IN the morning beginning at
$3.50 o'clock, and one in the afternoon, be-
ginning at o'clock. To avoid delay and
give the plenipotentiaries and delegates
time for consultations between sessions
1t has been arranged that luncheon shall
be served at the navy yard, and the en-
voys upon leaving their quarters in the
morning will not return until the after
noon session adjourns. Three secreta-
ries for each side will be in attendance
to draw up the protocols of the meetings.
which will be written in both English
and French The French text, however
in cases Of dispute will be accepted in
evidence.
The official versions of to-days meeting
given out by each side describe 1t as sat
isfactory." Other accounts indicate that
while everything passed off amicably con-
siderable reserve was displayed upon both
sides.
Baron Komura, whom Mr.. de Witte
had met in ST. Petersburg during the
formers service as japanese Minister
there, was pleasantly greeted by the
chief Russian envoy in French, but the
Baron was obliged to shake his head and
turn to his secretary, Mr.. Honda, who
explained that Baron Komura had for
gotten the little French he knew while
in st. Petersburg.
While the Russian plenipotentiaries ex-
pect the Japanese to present the Japa-
nese terms Immediately upon the official
exchange of credentials tomorrow, they
admit they are in the dark. Baron Ko-
mura and his colleagues decline to give
any intimatien of their course of pro-
cedure Pursuing the tactics which they
have constantly followed in all their dip
lonatic and military operations. they are
carefully guarding all their plans regard
ing the present meeting.
RUSSIANS NOT DISTRUSTFUL.
There was some disposition to-day to
attribute Baron Komuras forgetfulness
in not bringing his credentials to tho
meeting to desire to spar for time, and
for that reason some doubt was ex-
pressed whether the Japanese would
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