Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-24
Not Acceptable and Re-
fused at Once by N. White.
Another Adjournment, TIL Satur.
day---Re|ying on President.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 2S.-The Jap
anese plenfpotentiaries at the con-
clusion CT the afternoon session of the
peace conference threw their cards up
on the table. 1t was the dramatic mo-
ment-the moment to which all the pre-
vious proceedings of the conference had
led. The protocols involving agreement
upon eight of II conditions originally
presented by Japan had been signed.
One side or the other must make a
move or the plenipotentiaries had reach
ed the parting of the ways. The ad-
versarieS faced each other across the
table. OF course. it was we'll under
stood what would happen but that in a
way, only made it rlore dramatic
Figuratively President Roosevelt sud-
denly entered the conference room. NJ
Witte sat silent and the move in the
great diplomatic game passed to Jap
an.
Baron Komura in few words. ex-
planned that Japan in her great desire
for peace was ready to make certain
notifications" Of the original articles
i'll the hope that Russia could find it
possible to accept them. He then pre-
scented in writing to NJ. Witte, the COM
romise proposition which President
Roosevelt had suggested. 1t was con-
crete and specific and il followed the
lines outlined in these dispatches.
1t offered to withdraw Article pro-
viding for the payment by Russia of
Japan's bill for the cost of the war
en- condition that Russia would accept
Article 5 which provides for the ces-
sion of the Island of Sakhaln so modi-
fled as to include an arrangement for
the repurchase by Russia Of the north
ern half of the island for 1900, 900 yen
In addition, it offered to withdraw
entirely Articles IL and II (surrender
Of the interned warships and limitation
upon Russia's sea power in the Far
East).
1t was President Roosevelt's COM
promise and NJ. Witte knew it's con-
tents as well as Baron Komura. The
question of whether he had been
"bluffing" was put to the test.
Without r moments hesitation. NJ.
Witte explained that the modification"
proposed was merely a sham a change
of phraseology. a diplomatic attempt
to 'dorer la pilule" and asked Russia
to pay war tribute under another name
He could not accept it.
He told Baron Komura that Russia
wanted peace. She had given the
proofs in accepting every article in
volving the issues upon which the war
was fought but she could fight and
money for tribute she would not pay
not copeck. He asked Baron Ko-
mura to withdraw all demands for
tribute.
And so the plenipotentiaries separat-
ed to meet again, Saturday. ostensibly
to permit NJ. Witte to place in writing,
as the rules of the conference require
his reply to the japanese compromise
proposition. In reality. the adjourn
ment over two days. was to give each
side an opportunity to consult it's gov
ernment for the last time.
The outlook is black. many believe it
was never so black as tonight. The
japanese are not talking. Indeed, to-
night. they appear to be more taciturn
and more resolute than ever. The only
possible line of further Japanese con-
cession is considered to lie in the di-
rection of diminution of the amount
of the purchase money demanded for
the north half of Sakhalin.
The decision rests, therefore, as it has
from the first, with Russia. Unless the