Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-28
DEPENDS UPON JAPAN
PEACE FARLEY HELD FOR FINAL
WORD FROM TOKYO.

A specially summoned council OF the cabi-
| net and elder statesmen was held at Tokyo
| yesterday to discuss the Anal phases OF the
peace conference at Portsmouth.
| A dispatch from Portsmouth says: There
| is q persistent report that President Roose-
Welt has made a new appeal to the Emperor
| OF Japen.
| At Portsmouth last night, after confer
| enee lasting three-quarters Of an hour be-
| tween Mr.. Takahira and NJ. White. in the
| latter's room in the hotel annex. the an
nouncement Of postponement of the peace
parley until tomorrow was made. M. Witte
explained that Mr.. Takahira had told him
| that no new instructions had reached MIN
| from Tokyo. and. fearing none might be re-
ceived before the meeting scheduled for TINS
afternoon. he had suggested the propriety
| OF postponing the meetir until Tuesday.
To this NJ. White said he had readily as
scented.
Takahira's Statement.
Mr. Takahira made the following state
ment:
"Inasmuch as this conference was in
itiated by the friendly offices of your
President after consultation felt that
we should be cautious about terminating
it's Iabors."
situation as hopeless. Mr.. Takahira said:
No; not hopeless. but almost hopeless.
This in itself from one who has spoken
always in the most guarded fashion, Is
sufficient to show the desperateness of the
situation. The real crisis in the negotia-
tions Is at hand. 1t is very acute, but IL 1t
can be tided over for few days without
rupture a basis of peace acceptable to both
sides may come very suddenly. But to
save the situation now Japan must speak.
If on Tuesday she has nothing to offer
all is over. NJ White, even If he would, is
powerless to take a new step. His hands
are tied. He now occupies the role Of an
imperial messenger, who transmits his mas
ters orders to Baron Komura. and Baron
response.
Emperors Exchange Communica-
tons.
The conference room has ceased to be
place for negotiations. 1t is simply the
place where tine emperors of the warning
countries exchange their communications
by the hands Of their ENJOYS. And upon
the point of indemnity or reimbursement of
''fras de guerre' under any disguise EN-
peror Nicholas has given the Japanese en-
as final, and in writing Saturday informed
the Japanese plenipotentiaries that Russia
would have nothing further to say upon
this subject. Russia would cede half of
Sakhalin and pay the cost of the MAIN
tenance of the Russian prisoners, but that
was all. Emperor Nicholas had given the
same response to the President through
Ambassador Meyer.
Assistant Secretary PIERCE, after the an
nouncement of the decision to adjourn over
to Tuesday, both NJ. White and Mr..
Takahira, and then sent a long cipher mes
sage to the President
Although the public last night was led to
believe that the meeting was definitely ad
1ourned until Tuesday. the Associated Press
learned late last night that, according to
the joint understanding between NJ. White
and Mr. Takahira it was agreed that there
would be no meeting until Japan's response
to what may be regarded as the Russian
ultimatum arrived.
An Important Interview.
The meeting, therefore, may not be held
until Wednesday or Thursday. Tokyo must
now decide, and judging from the tone of
the japanese press, the government must
face great deal of opposition at home If 1t
yields further. NJ Plancon acted as inter-
prefer for NJ White and Mr.. Takahira at
this interview last night.
After the interview M. White called Mr..
de Martens and Mr.. Pokotilofr in confer
ence. The interview between NJ White
and Mr.. Takahira was the sensation of
the day. Everybody had been at high
tension. On all sides the report had been
spread that tomorrow would witness the
final breakup, and that tomorrow night
the hotel would be deserted. The Russian
attaches, who know M. Whites position,
talked Of making their p. P. c. calls, and
were discussing the dates of the steamer
sailings, etc. Then suddenly. at o'clock,
the rumor got abroad that NJ. White and
Mr.. Takahira were In private consultation.
Fifty correspondents beleaguered the doors
of NJ Whites room. When it was over NJ.
Witte emerged and pretended to be greatly
astonished at the crowd of journalists. He
appeared to be in very good humor and
cracked several jokes in French, which
most of those present did not comprehend,
and then briefly made the announcement
quoted above.