The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-25

IL" AAsefC Is oaToHS DetcrIiinatlOn
Neither to Pay Indemnity nor Cede
Tcrritory-Japanese Probably Stand
Where They did Last Friday-Un-
less Fresh Instructions are Received
tEe Whole Situation Remains rs It
was When Adjournment was Taken.
Neither Sid Seems Very Hopeful OF
Successful Outcome of the Ncco-
tiations.
Portsmouth, \. H, August 21.-The
result of President Roosevelt's efforts
to save the peace conference from fail
ure remains i'll suspense. No direct re-
ply to the Presidents proposition
communicated by NJ. White yesterday
has ONE from Emperor Nicholas to-
night, but other advices received from
st. Petersburg indicate that the emper-
Or and his councillors are mistaken
in their determination neither to cede
territory nor pay val tributes. What
the President is doing on the japanese
side remains as deep as mystery as
ever. Little light is she'd upon visits
Of BarO Kaneko to Oyster Bay. The
Japanese do not ven admit that he is
their medium of communication with
the President. They go no farther han
to reiterate that Mr.. Roosevelt under
Sfa n1C fhniyn ooCi*inn 0n1 +bo% @hnxr
have the fullest confidence in him.
They show not the slightest indication
that they have in any wise changed
their position or are prepared to yield
more than they were last Friday when
the plenipotentiaries adjourned until
tomorrow.
If NJ. Witte does not receive fresh
instructions before 3 o'clock tomorrow
afternoon when the conference is re-
sumed, the situation will be exactly
what it was when the adjournment
was taken on Friday.
Both sides will present their proto-
coils for signature. One side Or the 9th
CT must then make a move or all that
will be left will be a brief final proto-
col certifying that they have reached
Liz pdI vi LIN ways, dhu ~ ~
each other farewell. But such an alb
rupe termination is hardly anticipate
ed. Baron Komura, if NJ. White has
nothing to propose. might present Ja-
pans irreducible minimum embodying
the final concessions she is prepared to
make, if she is prepared to make any,
Or formally propose collective consider
alton of all the articles still in dispute.
4 NV NOVA ~, a;f1os ctIn would ;nxolvn
another adjournment, o. such an adj
journment might be frankly proposed
by NJ. Witte, as he would not be guilty
of the discourtesy of allowing the con-
ference to go to pieces before receiving
2 specific reply to President Roose-
veltS proposition.
1t is safe to assume, therefore, that
in the absence of such a reply the con-
ference will be prolonged beyond to-
morrow and every delay, in the opinion
of the Presidents friends, means hope,
faint though it may be. Mr.. ROose-
yelt's object was officially described to-
day as being to "prolong the negOtia-
TONS"
There is warrant for the statement
that NJ. White personally sympathizes
with the Presidents proposition, no
illdltoI HOW 1t may NC ICSdIoCu ny LIS
imperial master and the latter's advls-
crs. 1t is a mistake to suppose that IN
considering such a proposition the EN-
peror consults a regularly ordained
council. Throughout the conference he
has been calling in council such advls-
ors as he deemed wise, some of his rel
| atives, the grand dukes, members OF
the court and certain chosen ministers.
| The Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholal-
witch ,one of the most powerful of his
relatives, is known to be absolutely
opposed to yielding an iota beyond
what NJ. Witte has already conceded.
| AS an alternative he favors the contn-
| uation Of the war.
The spirit of all the advices received
has been such as almost to preclude
hope Of an eleventh hour change. The
| general belief here is that the Presl-
| dent, while he has the moral support
Of one Of the neutral powers has not
| received the active aid he expected
| England's declination to offer advice TO
| Japan is disappointing, though the mo-
| hyes that actuate her in refusing 10
| do anything that might be construed
as an attempt to exercise pressure upon
her ally tending to rob her of the fruits
of her victory + fully appreciated
There are evidences here that coop
Grafton by Great Britain would have
been resented by Japan.
Among the japanese tonight no
note of hope is sounded. With genuine
! reluctance they seem almost resigned
to the shipwreck of the conference.
They declare that their position is un-
| changed and they speak of renewing
| their war with a snap of their eyes,
| which speaks volumes for their conf
dence in the success of the Oyama
| when the void is given to advance
we have fought for a lasting
peace, said one of the attaches closest
| to the chiefs. I'VE lave been vlcf0r1-
Gus. If Russia came to Portsmouth
unprepared to pay the price OF defeat
all Is over. We do not believe that the
! President considers our terms unrea-