The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-17
Russia Kicks on Indemnity
and Cession of SakhaIin.
CREDENTIALS AN ISSUE
Dove Of Peace FIutters Hesitatinaly
Over Conference of Plenipotenta-
res at Portsmouth Navy Yard.
Middle Over Credentials.

A special from Portsmouth says
Russia's reply to the Japanese terms
Of peace was delivered by Mr..
Witte to Baron Komura at $50
o'clock Saturday morning. The re-
ply is written in two texts, one in
French and the other in English.
Upon two crucial points, indemnity
! and the cession of the island of Sah-
halin, the reply is an absolute non
possimus. Other points are accepted
as bases for discussion, while others
are accepted conditionally.
The reply is rather long, because
enumerating tie conditions. upo.
which discussion is admitted and
those upon which consideration is de-
clined, reasons and arguments are
given.
The tactics Of the japanese are in.
scrutable. They have shown through.
out the war this ability to guard their
secrets, military, naval and diplomat
ic, and now not the remotest clew
comes from behind their closed doors
as to whether they are prepared 20
make substantial concessions. Silence
and secrecy are their watchwords.
A very remarkable state of affairs
exists regarding the credentials of the
Japanese plenlpotentiaries and the
end is not yet.
Notwithstanding the. previous Off
ctal statement that with the exchange
Of credentials all difficulties On that
point had been removed, the Associat-
cd Press learns authoritatively that
the matter still is in issue. After the
failure Of Baron Komura to produce
his credentials at the first session on
Wednesday, an English copy was COM
municated to NJ. Witte, with the state
ment that it was a copy, but that it.
was in no wise attested. -
At Thursdays session, Baron Ko-
mura submitted the original in jap
anese, but, of course, no member OF
the Russian mission could read it. NJ.
Witte,s credentials, on the contrary,
while in Russian, were accompanied by
a certified copy in French, which bore
the signature of Count Lamsdorff, the
Russian minister Of foreign affairs. NJ.
Witte has returned to Baron Komura
the copy of the latter's credentials in
the expectation that he would forth
with receive an attested copy of the
translation, but up to noon Friday ne
had received nothing.
The difference in the powers con-
ferred on the two plenipotentlar1es
also raises a delicate point, and one
Of the greatest moment. In the Rus
sian credentials the emperor pledges
his word Of honor to sign any treaty
which receives the approval of NJ.
Witte. The power conferred upon NJ.
Witte to negotiate and conclude
treaty Of peace is absolute.
Baron Komura's credentials, on the
contrary, specifically provide that any
treaty negotiated by Baron Komura
must receive the imperial ratification
Of the emperor Of Japan.
This divergence in the character OF
the credentials is so vital that N.
Witte has communicated to Baron Ko-
mura an Official diplomatic note where
in he notifies the Japanese chief plenl-
petentiary that while he stands ready
to exercise the full powers conferred
upon him, in view of the limitation
placed upon the powers Of Japan's
chief negotiators, he regards it as
only proper that he should consider
his powers limited in the same way.
In other words, unless the powers OF
Baron Komura are increased to make
them co-equal with those conferred
upon NJ. witte, Emperor Nicholas will
have the right to ratify or reject any
treaty that is negotiated.