Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-23
THERE IS STILL HOPE
Negotiations Continue at
Portsmouth for Peace.
PRESIDENT Is ACTIVE
ENJOYS ARE BRISKLY AT WORK
ON THE PROTOCOL.
Speculation Over the Possibilities of
Success-Waiting for Final Word
From the Gear.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
PORTSMOUTH, N H. August 23.-The
Russian and Japanese peace ENJOYS con-
tinued their sessions this morning after
four days recess. The morning was taken
up listening to the reading of the pro-o-
coils of agreement and disagreement on the
principles or demands on which Japan =se
announced her willingness to make peace
The morning session lasted until 12:3O
o'clock, and the first views of the proceed
ings came from NJ. Witte himself when he
returned to the Hotel Wentworth for lunch
con.
NJ witte also took occasion to deny en-
phatically the widely published statement
that he had yesterday received a COM
munication from President Roosevelt pro-
posing a basis on which the two warinS
nations could agree.
NJ Witte said on returning from the con-
ference:
I'VE spent the session listening to the
reading Of the protocols, and then ad-
journed until 8 o'clock"
Has any proposition for a settlement
come to you from President Roosevelt"
NO proposal has been made to me by
the President. II he has made any pro-
pcsals to the Japanese I do not know OF 1t.
Rumors Over Clerks Visit.
The visit to Portsmouth yesterday Of j.
L. McGrew, one of the Presidents clerks.
gave rise to reports sent out as authorita-
tive that the President had sent an import
ant communication to NJ. Witte, which WAS
delivered at the navy yard. Following thls
came the story that the President pro-
posed as a basis OF settlement that Japan
was willing to abandon her demands for
the interned ships and limitation OF naval
power, and that an arrangement might ne
made by which Russia would buy back
Sakhalin at price measuring close to that
which Japan demands to reimburse her
for the war. and the rest of the sum to De
made up in payment for the care OF
Russian prisoners.
Two Articles the Sticklers.
In his statement today emphatic as 1t
was, NJ Witte set that report at rest
There is ground. however. to believe that
he has received directly from Baron ko-
mura an indication that Japan might be
more conciliatory and give up her demands
for interned ships and naval limitation, but
the Russians take the ground now, as they
have from the first, that these concessions
are 10 concessions at all, and that they
will not recede from their refusal to pay
indemnity to cede Sakhalin.
1t is undeniable that there is a more hope
full feeling here regarding the outcome OF
the negotiations, but the optimistic feeling
has its basis in the activity Of President
Roosevelt, the continuation and delay IN
the conference and the hope that conces-
sions by Japan will lead to a breakdown by
Russia. AS 10 facts there is nothing known
here to indicate any real change in the sit
alton regards the vital points or dlr-
ference.
Word From st. Petersburg.
A dispatch 1t is said on good authority.
reached NJ. Witte from St Petersburg last
night ordering him not 10 recede on any of
lalou
on which the envoys differ. AS to whether
the japanese would consent to trade SAX
hahn for an indemnity is a matter of pure
conjecture, but for her to do so would be
complete right-about.
Her ENJOYS have repeated again and again
that Japan will demand Sakhahn and in
demnity, too. The Japanese feeling at home
as well as here is that TO part with either
would be TO part with the chief points OF
victory. Still, the reports of a chance of
compromise on these two points are per-
sistent.
Hope for Peace.
AS long as the conference holds there
III hope of peace. That has been denied by
no well-informed person from the start.
The delay in the protocols gave President
Roosevelt an opportunity to make an ef-
fort TO break the deadlock which has ex-
listed since articles five zine, ten and eleven
came vi der consideration.
Out of Difference to him the ENJOYS will
make every effort to reach an agreement,
and are not likely to hurry the conference
to close until all efforts at a compromise
have failed.
This morning II reported that an ad-
jcurnment would be taken today until Sat
urday. which save color to the reports that
active efforts being made in many
quarters TO delay the conference.
II was said that on Friday both commits
sions would go on an excursion to the White
Mountains as guests of Governor McIain of
HamnSllre. [
ncunced that this plan had been abandoned.
The commissions did not care TO go together
on such an excursion until peace existed,
and II was also explained that the ENJOYS
did not went to get far from the ends of
the cables that connect them with their
hCme governments
Baron Rosen said at noon that he did not
VI derstand that there any plan to ad
1ourn this afternoon until Saturday.
Comment Over Incident
Some comment was caused by the fact
that at the noon recess NJ. Witte and
Baron Rosen retired to their quarters at
the hotel, while the japanese envoys
stayed at the navy yard. 1t is presumed
that the Russian ENJOYS came back to
communicate with their home government,
for II has been the custom TO have
luncheon in the room especially provided
In the naval stores building where the con-
ference is held.
II was reported generally this morning
that very soon Baron Komura would sub
NIT to NJ witte at their meetings modi-
fed proposal giving up articles 10 and IL,
and that II Russia would recede from her
uncompromising stand on articles B and 10
the way would be open 10 further negotia-
tions. 1t has been understood here from
the first that articles 10 and II were put
up to be knocked down. and they have
never been deemed of great Importance, as
the real deadlock has been or Sakhalin
and indemnity.
By Associated Press.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., August 23.-Ex-
cessive tension are the words which should
be used to describe the situation before the
peace plenipotentaries this morning There
were evidences of excitement in both
camps as the chiefs and attaches made
their preparations for departure. The sum-
1rer guests of the hotel were as agitated as
the foreigners. and the crowds on the
veranda to witness the departure were