New-York tribune., 1905-08-13
PROGRESS TOWARD PEACE.
Consideration of Indemnity and Ces-
sion of Saghalien Deferred.
M .h. As.oci,ted press.)

Portsmouth n. H, Aug. 12.-There Is III.
I'm the clouds. The prospects OF successiui
issue of the washington conference h"'e
Frightened somewhat as result Oh 'o-ueS
DEVELOPMENTS. The discussion OF the Terms euD
mitted by Japan has actually begun pul 'iii'
has been accomp mplished by postponing the CON
sidering of the two main issues-indemnity ana
,he- cesston of Saxhalien So far ascertain
able the japanese were responsible Tor the
tactics by which this hopeful stage was en-
tered upon. AS the mantle OF secrecy mas peeh
thrown around the proceedings by mutuai
hedges not TO divulge what happened witnih
the council chamber there missing links In
the chain of evidence and 1t is impossible to
Judge whether this signifies pacKoo"h On
either side the main points
On the face Of things, both sides are still as
uncompromising as ever upon the TWO ISSUES
the struggle over them being merely postponed
Some sort of private understanding arrived at
bv BARON Konura and Mr. Witte in course OF
the recess at the navy yard to-day, is hinted at
but there is not the slightest confirmation op-
tainable No evidence of change or the ul-
compromising attitude on the part of Mr.. Wltte
or Baron Rosen regarding the main points Is
observable. Nevertheless. the Japanese who are
attached to the Nippon mission plainly manifest
elation. and some of them privately assert that
Mr. witte would never have consented to the
discussion of the terms had he not been pre-
pared TO yield on the question of saghalien.
All this appears yet to be largely surrnise
and deduction. but certainly the curtain of
mystery which has been rung down might
easily conceal important maneuvring from the
Public gaze The Russian reply. with its
possumus as to indemnity and Saghalien, had
been presented in the morning. Yet, in spite Of
this fact, at g o'clock the plenipotentiaries met
and. after agreeing to discuss the conditions
seriatm. entered upon the consideration of the
first of the japanese terms. The proposition to
discuss the conditions in this way is believed TO
have emanated from the Japanese side. The
first condition was of secondary Importance
one of those which Russia had passed upon as
conditionally acceptable as basis of discus
sion-yet little progress was made. Four hours
were spent in debating it, but no conclusion
reached.
AS there are twelve conditions, anu thls one
is of minor Importance, the outlook is still
gloomy The plenipotentiaries at o'clock ad-
journed until tomorrow afternoon at o'clock
The japanese wanted TO hold a session in the
morning but Mr.. witte would not agree to this.
as 1t Sunday.
Both of to-days sessions described as
friendly" but details are divuged. MT.
Witte however makes no concealment of the
fact that the rigid secrecy which the japanese
insisted upon imposing upon the proceedings is
distasteful 70 him. With much earnestness he
spoke tonight to The Associated Press corre-
spondent upon the subject. At the time he was
Iaboring under considerable excitement because
of the published assertion, which had been
called to his attention, that he had pleaded for
an armistice. For the dignity Of Russia and
the pride of his country he asked that an absos
lutte denial should be given to the report.
Recurring TO the question of the secrecy OF
the proceedings he said that he understood
neither the Japanese desire TO conceal what was
occurring nor could he appreciate the logic Of
the arguments they adduced in support Of their
position.
I'VE desire" said he. that everything per
tanning to the conference should be done in the
daylight. Russia is ready to be judged by the
whole world We have nothing to conceal and
nothing to fear. Before the conference began
all sorts of reports and misstatements emanated
from the other side. Now that the world needs
enlightenment now that the moment has come
to face the supreme tribunal of public opinion,
we are not permitted TO place before the world
the evidence in our possession, from which
just verdict could be returned TO the issue
between the belligerents. The Russian pleni-
potentiaries stand ready to publish the text of
the Japanese conditions. the full reply OF Russia
presented this morning, the diplomatic notes
that have been exchanged and the minutes OF
the sittings The issue being tried at
Portsmouth is not only question of peace or
war between Russia and Japan, but one which
might produce general confagration, involving
he She OF