The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-24

seeking some verbal subterfuge to mako
peace with their enemy upon terms dictated
by Japan.
There had been disposition to believe
on the part Of those who have watched the
situation CLOSELY that the Japanese would
offer concessions II they saw that the Rus
any more OF Japan's demands. The action
Of Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira to-day
confirmed this forecast and Also the opinion
that Japan was quite as anxious for peace
a. Russia was.
WHITES STAND
Mr.. Witte has frankly avowed that Rus
sia regarded an ending Of the war a. neoes-
sary to her we'll being and he has expressed
his personal wish that treaty should result
from the current exchanges. but he has at
the same time insisted that there would
be no hope Of an adjustment as long as
Japan persisted In her claim to remuneration
for tho money abe had spent In prosecuting
the Far Eastern conflict.
II has come to be we'll understood among
those who have obtained some insight into
Mr.. Whites character through personal
contact With him that he possesses a sterling
honesty that cannot be shaken. He has
remained consistent to all that he has said
with reference to the position Of Russia.
and the belief has become a conviction In
most quarters In Portsmouth that he will
not swerve from the attitude which he
has assumed in regard to tho questions OF
indemnity and oession Of territory.
Taking for granted this estimate OF the
rugged emissary Of the Gear. It is apparent
that Japan must make more substantial
concessions in order to win from the Russian
ENJOYS q consent to the conclusion OF the
treaty Of peace.
Whether Japan will do this is problemati-
cal, but there Is enough Of hope in the
change proposed by Baron Komura and
Mr.. Takahira in the conditions originally
presented by them. virtually In the form Of
demands. TO suggest that the Toxic Govern
ment IL now willing to meet Russia half
way in the efforts Of both to ad Just their
differences
RoosEvELT's INFLUENCE.
To what extent President Roosevelt's
influence was responsible for bringing
about what may be termed more concil-
iatory attitude on the part Of Japan has
not been disclosed, but the evidence at
hand indicates that while moral effect
may have been produced by'the knowledge
that he was working to save the Ports
mouth conference from dissolution, the
proposal made by the Japanese to-day
was not directly due to the Presidents
endeavors.
In the faoe Of the silence maintained
by the Japanese the understanding IL that
Mr.. Roosevelt confined his work for peace
to the Russian ENJOYS. II he made any
representations to Baron Komura and Mr..
Takahira or the Government at Toxic
nothing has yet appeared to indicate It.
His e1ortsto prevent the conference from
ending futilely were seemingly directed
to Mr.. Witte and Baron Rosen,
who of course, transmitted the Presidents
to st. Petersburg. How it was
received there may be gathered from the
telegraphed to the Russian
ENJOYS at Portsmouth by the Cars direc-
ton to decline'to recede from their refusal
to grant the indemnity and territorial
cession demands OF the Japanese.
1t is fair to explain that tho President
did not submit any specific proposal to the
Cars plenipotentiaries. Mr.. Witte is au-
thority for this statement which confirms
The view that however anxious the Presi-
dent may be to see the negotiations bear
that neutral chief of state must observe
in dealing with a subject that does not
actually concern any nations other than
Russia and Japan. Tho Presidents pro-
posal was tender Of good Offices and in
subsequent communications he has backed
up his original offer to do his utmost to
bring the belligerent governments together.
He has by no means given up hope Of
accomplishing the end which he has in mind,
For to-day he was in constant communioa-
lion by telegraph with Assistant Secretary
H. H. d. Peirce Of the State Department,
his representative here, who ia the medium
Of transmission between Mr.. Roosevelt
and the Russian ENJOYS. There have been
statements that the President sent no mes
sage to Mr.. Witte by Baron Rosen; who
vent to Oyster Bay last Friday on the
Presidents invitation. These, however,
are erroneous. Baron Rosen was sent for
to receive a communication
Intended for Mr.. Witte, and he did receive
i and duly delivered It to his fellow pleni-
potentiary.
yAPANRsB DISAPPOINTED.
The Japanese representatives here are
greatly disappointed over the attitude
which the Russians assumed when tho COM