The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-14
Sitting of EnVoys Postponed
 to Today
cOREA SUPPLIES THE RUB
Is Bone of Contention And WItts Makes Sensational Disclosure of Russla's Tactics-Yellow Peril
 Played Up Strongly.

Portsmouth N. H., August 13.-No pro- 1 gress has been made with the peace nego- tiations over Sunday They stand exactly where they did last night. The session of the penipotentiaries which was to have been held this afternoon was post poned by mutual agreement out of ref erence to the fact that it was the Holy Sabbath which Is universally observed in Russia as day of rest.
 The Russians had not been anxious for a session today, and this morning took the initiative and through the intermediary of Mir. Peirce it was decided to postpone the sitting until tomorrow morning. The situation, therefore remains the same. It would perhaps not be too much to say that the general feeling Is hopeful in spite of open predictions made by per- sonages connected with both sides of the negotiations that before next Sunday the plenipotentaries will meet an impasse where rupture will become inevitable. This pessimistic view Is based upon the fact that so far as known the two big barriers to an agreement-indemnity and SakhaIn-remain as high and lnsur- | mountable as ever
 Real Struggle Postponed. The real struggle Is only postponed. The main problems are no nearer solution than when the plenlpotentiaries met. The principal reason for optimism lies in the fact that, confronted with the absolute refusal of the Russian reply to admit the discussion of either indemnity or the ces- | ell af la fola md of 1af rha1 t, bt, Iaf nese proposed to take up tho eonsidera- ton Of the conditions seratiem. From this 1t is assumed,,4hat the Japanese are prepared to yield or have reason to be- lieve a way will be found to overcome the | objections of their adversaries when the | crucial test comes.
 An intimation comes from high source that very strong outside influences arc at work on both sides, and that for the moment the effort Is to gain time. The plan of having Russia practically satisfy | Japans claim for reimbursement for the cost of the war by the purchase of the Japanese military evacuation of Sakhaln continues to be advanced. Such solution would permit Russia to say she had paid neither indemnity nor ceded foot of territory.
 The debate in yesterdays conference over the first conditon--the recognition of Japans "preponderating influence" over l COrea, lnNOlNlnB ner ilBHl tO eontroi itt administration over the Hermit kingdom. use the littoral for strategic purposes, etc.-was of a remarkable character In- deed, the position taken by M. Witte was sensational in the extreme. His atti- tude reveals plainly the Russian tac- tics. They propose to raise before the world the spectre of the yellow perll' Russia claims that Japan's plain purpose is to get a foothold on the Asiatic conti- nent from which to extend her influence and dominion.
 Wltte Makes Contention.
 M Witte made no objection, but declar- ed the words "preponderatng influence" did not adequately describe what Japan proposed to do. and he insisted that the language used should show Japans true purpose. which he contended was to make Japanese province of Korea. His argui ment might be summarized as follows:
 "Russla has no objection to Japan talk ing Korea, but you must avow 1t plainly If 1t Is to be taken it should be taken officially so that the world will under stand your purpose to take possession of the persons of the entire administra- ton of the kingdom from the Emperor down to the smallest of the people. Co., req will have no representative abroad, to explain the situation from the stand point of the Coreans, all of Which means that Corea Is to belong to Japan. So | lt. should ayow a purpose which is against the interests of Europe and America es- pecially against the interests of the | United States, China, and even England. If this Is satisfactory to Europe and America, Russia has no protest. If you propose to destroy every vestige of the sovereignty of the empire of Corea, you desire to employ formula which will conceal your true purpose. The country which will suffer most is America, which will understand 1t in about ten years | when 1t Is too late"
 To this argument Baron Komura dis | sented most vigorously, although in the most friendly manner, contending that | Japan only sought to secure for herself 1 fin Corea the commercial and industrial position to which she was Untitled and to aid in it's civilization and development | as well as to protect the kingdom from | administrative anarchy.
 Strange Coincidence.
 The fact that the Corean question should | be the first to be discussed in the peace conference is strangely fitting, it was | over Corea that the long struggle be- 1 tween Russia and Japan which eliminated | fin the present bloody war began. After Japan was forced out of Port Arthur l and Liao Tung in 1895, each became sus- | picious of the intention of the others l influence in Corea and first in the Lo- l banoff agreement of 1896 and later in the Nissi-Rosen agreement of 1898 they en- | tered upon mutual obligations. In the former Japan secured the right to pro- tect the imperial family and to build the Seoul-Fusan telegraph and Russia | to establish telegraph line from Seoul | to the Russian frontier. In the latter, while there were mutual obligations to protect the independence and territorial integrity of Corea. Japans industrial and commercial position in Corea was recognized Ever since Corea has been the bone of contention Japan has always been suspicious of Russian ecroachment. At last the continued occupation of Man churia by Russia and the Yalu lumber concessions induced Japan to try to coNd | to a definite settlement with Russia In the negotiations preceding the war. They proved futile and in the Japanese im- perial rescript declaring war; the Empero1 of Japan said
 The safety of Corea Is in danger. The interests of the empire are menaced.' Now by a sort of memorable logic the