Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1905-08-24

Portsmouth, N. H., Aus "
fJapanese plenipotentiaries at the con-
$clusion of the afternoon session yes
#terday of the peace conference, threw
E+he cards upon the table. 1t was the
dramatic moment-the moment to
(which all previous proceedings OF the
conference had led. The protocols in
yo.ying agreement upon eight of the
Itwelye conditions originally present
ed by Japan had been signed. One
side or the other must make move;
the plenipotentiaries had reached the
parting of the ways.
Of course it was we'll understood
what would happen, but that, in
way, only made it more dramatic. Fig
-.uratively speaking, President Roose-
welt suddenly entered the conference
room. NJ White sat in silence, and
the move in the great diplomatic game
passed to Japan. Baron Komura, in
a few words, explained that Japan in
her great desire for peace, was ready
to make certain notifications of the
original articles in the hope that Rus
STA would find it possible to accept
themb.
Presidents Compromise Presented.
He then presented in writing to M.
Witte the compromise proposition
which President Roosevelt had sug.
gested. 1t was concrete and specific,
and it followed the lines outlined in
these dispatches. It offered to with
draw article 9, providing for the pay
cost of the war, on condition that Rus
STA would accept article 5, which pro.
vides for the cession of the island Of
Sakhalin, sc modified as to include an
arrangement for the repurchase by
Russia of the northern half of the is
land for twelve hundred million yen.
H. addition. it offered to withdraw en-
tirely articles II and -, surrender
of interned warships and limitations
upon Russia's sea power in the far
east.
M. Witte Refuses to Accept.
1t was President Roosevelt's COM
promise and NJ. White knew it's con-
tents as we'll as Baron Komura. The
question of whether he had been
"bluffing' was put to the test With
out moments hesitation NJ. White
explained that the modification propos-
ed was merely sham. change of
phraseology, diplomatic way of ask
iGg Russia to pay tribute under an
other name. He could not accept it.
He told Baron Komura that Russia
wanted peace. She had given the
proofs in accepting every article in
volying the issues upon which the war
was fought, but she could fight and
money for tribute she would not pay
not kopec. He asked Baron Komu-
re- to withdraw all demands for tr-
butte.
And so the plenipotentiaries sep
arated to meet again on Saturday, os-
tensibly to permit M. White to place
In writing, as the rules of the confer
ence require, his reply to the Japanese
compromise proposition. In reality
the adjournment over two days was to
give each side an opportunity to con-
suit its government for the last time.
The outlook is black. The Japan.
,ese are not talking. Indeed, last
night they appear to be more taciturn
and more resolute than ever. The on
~ possible line of further Japanese
concession is considered to lie in the
dimunition of the amount of the pur-
chase money demanded for the north
half of Sakhalin. The decision rests
therefore as it has from the first with
Russia. Unless the emperor agrees
to yield between now and Saturday
tAC Gnu ID Alhcly W COlllc OIl CIldC udy.
And the indications from Peterhof
instead of raising the chances of
change of heart on the part of the en-
reror seem to indicate even a firmer
determination to yield neither terri
tory nor indemnity sugarcoated
though the latter may be.
The long instructions received Tues
day night, while not a reply to the
communication to President Roose-
welt given to M. White at the navy
yard Tuesday, was of character to
almost completely destroy the hope
that it will be possible for M. White
to satisfy the Japanese demand. M.
Witte himself has been quoted as say
ing that he would noksign treaty in