The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-08-13
DISCUSSION OF
JAPANESE TERMS
Indemnity and Sakhalin Passed For
the Present.
GREAT SECRECY OBSERVED
ENJOYS WILL MEET AT :
O'CLOCK THIS AFTERNOON.

RORTSMOUTH, n. H, Aug. "a
There is a rift in the clouds. The
prospects of a successful issue of
sthe washington conference" have
frightened somewhat as a result of to-
days developments. The discussion of
the terms submitted by Japan has
actually begun. but this has been ac-
conplfshed by postponing the con-
sideration of the two main issues,
indemnity and the cession OF Sakhalin.
So far as ascertainable, the japanese
were RESPONSIBLE for the tactics by
which this hopeful stage was entered
uDon. As the mantle of secrecy
has been thrown around the proceed
ings by mutual pledges not to divulge
what happened within the counch
chamber. there are missing links in the
chain of evidence and it is impossible
TO Judge whether this signifies back
down on either side on the main points.
Struggle Postponed.
On the face of things both sides are
stiU as uncompromising as ever upon
the two issues. the struggle over them
being merely postponed. Some sort
of private understanding arrived at
by Baron Komura and NJ. White dur
ing the recess at the navy yard today
is limited at, but there is not the slight
est confirmation obtainable. No evidence
of a change of the uncompromising at
titude on the part of NJ. White Oh
Baron Rosen regarding the main points
is observable. Nevertheless the Japan
csc who are attached to the Nippon
mission plainly manifest citation and
some Of them privately assert that
Mr.. Witte would never have consented
TO the discussion of the terms had ne
not been prepared to yield on the ques-
tion of Sal6halin.
Mostly Surmise.
All this appears vet to be largely sur
mise and deduction, but certainly the
curtain of mystery which has now
been rung down might easily conceal
important maneuvering from the public
gaze. The Russian reply with its non
possimus as to indemnity and Sakhaiin
had been presented in the morning. Yet,
in spite of this fact. at o'clock the
plenipotentiaries met and after agree
ing to discuss the conditions seriatlm
entered upon the consideration of the
first of the japanese terms. The pro
position to discuss conditions in this
way is believed to have emanated from
the Japanese side The first condition
was of secondary Importance, one OF
those which Russia had passed upon
as cOnditionally acceptable as basis
Of discussion-yet little progress was
made. Four hours Were spent in de-
batting it, but no conclusion was
reached AS there are twelve cOndi-
tons and the one is of minor import
ance, the outlook is sim gloomy
Meet Again Today.
The Observation-Disclosures at o'clock adj
iourned until tomorrow afternoon at
O'Clock The japanese wanted to hold
q session in the morning but Mr.. White
would not agree to this as IL was sun
day. Both of todays sessions are
described as friendly but no details
are divulged. NJ. Witte. however,
makes no conceaIment of the fact that
the rigid secrecy which the Japanese
insisted uDon imposing upon the pro-
ceedings is dtstasteful to him With
much earneStneSS he spoke tonight to
The Associated Press correspondent
upon the subject. At the time he was
laboring under considerable excitement
r because of the published assertion
which had been called to his attention
that he had pleaded for an armistice.
For the dignity of Russia and the
pride of his country he asked that an
absolute denial should be given to the
report
Witte Desires Publicity,
Recurring to the question of the Sc
crecy of the proceedings. he said he
did not understand the Japanese de-
sire to conceal what was taking place
nor could he appreciate the logic of
the arguments adduced in support of
their position
1--WE desire" said he, that every
thing pertaining to the conference
should be done in the daylight Rus
STA is ready to be judged by the whole
world. We have nothing to conceal
and nothing TO fear Before the con
ference began all sorts of reports and
misstatements emanated from the other
side. Now that the world needs en-
lightenment. now that the moment has
come TO face the supreme tribunal Of
public opinion, we are not permitted
TO place before the world the evidence
in our possession. from which a just
verdict could be returned as to the
issue between the bellIgerents. The
Russian Observation-Disclosures stand ready
to publish the text of the Japanese
conditions, the full reply of Russia,
presented this morning; the diplomatic
notes that have been exchanged, and
the minutes Of the sitting ,fhe issue
now being tried at Portsmouth is not
only question of peace or war be-
tween Russia and Japan, but one
which might produce a general con-
Migration involving the shedding of
blood in many countries"
Believe Japan Will Yield.
Many OF the observers at the Went
worth tonight recalled the fact that
all the statements emanating from
japanese sources before the conference
declared that Japan. before consent
ing to take UP the detailed discussion
of the conditions, would insist upon a
general agreement upon the OASIS II
was asserted with great positfveness
that Japan would never consent to dis
cuss the terms seriatim until such an
agreement had been reached. From this
many argue that Japan is prepared to
yield. Others believe. on the contrary
that a private assurance has been
given Baron Koruna outside the con-
ference chamber that Russia would
discuss all the basis proposed.
NJ. Witte has arranged TO attend re-
This evening he remarked. laughingly:
I'm not a Japanese" he added: II
do not want n session of<the confer
ence tomorrow morning I am good
Christian and desire to attend serv-
ices on the Sabbath. AS there is no
Orthodox church here, I shall go TO
the Protestant church.
It is believed that the condition dis
cussed at today's meeting was the
question of the evacuation of Manchuria
and the transfer of the Russian leases
10 Japan.
Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira