Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-14
FIRST SNAG IS COREA
Saturdays Discussion Of oonferess All
Relates to that Country,
RUSSIA UNWILLING TO ADMIT JAP CLAIMS
Toxic Papers Discuss Progress of the Peace
Negotiations.
ONE EXPRESSES BELIEF RUSSIA is 6LUFFlNG
sakhalin Island Already in Possession Of
the Japanese,
OTHER MARITIME PROVINCES At MERCY
Another journal Advises Japan Had
Better GO Ahead with war Prep
Rrations, seeing No Hope
for Peace.
We EXPRESSES BEuEFRUSslAls sLUFFlNG
sakhalin Island Already in Possession Of
the Japanese,
OTHER MARITIME PROVINCES At MERCY

PORTSMOUTH, N H., Aug. 12--No pro-
gress has been made with the peace nego-
tiations over Sunday. They stand exactly
where they did last night. The session of
the plenipotentiaries which was to have been
held this afternoon was postponed by mu-
tual agreement out OF reverence to the
fact that it was the holy Sabbath which
is universally observed In Russia
day Of rest, The Russians had not been
anxious for a session today and this morn
ing the japanese took the initiative and
through the intermediary OF Mr.. Peirce it
decided to postpone the sitting until
tomorrow morning.
The situation therefore remains the same
1t would perhaps not be too much to say
that the general feeling is more hopeful
I'm spite of open predictions made by per-
sonages connected with both sides of the
negotiations that before next Sunday the
plenipotentiaries will reach an impasse
where rupture will become inevitable This
pessimistic view is based upon the fact
that so far as known the two big barriers
to an agreement-indemnity and Sakhalin
-remain as high and insurmountable as
ever.
Main PrObIeAs Untouched.
The real struggle is only postponed The
main problems are no nearer solution than
when the plenipotentiaries met. The prin-
cipal reason for optimism lies IN the fact
that confronted with absolute refusal Of
! the Russian reply to admit the discussion
of either indemnity or the cession of SAX
haln the japanese proposed to take up
the consideration Of the conditions seriatim.
1t is assumed that the japanese are pre-
pared TO yield, or have reason to believe
a way win be found to overcome the OBJ
jections of their adversaries when the cru
cial test comes.
! An lntimation comes from high source
| that very strong outside influences are at
| work on both cides and that for the mo-
| ment the effort is to gain time. The plan
! of having Russia practically satisfy Japan's
| claim of reimbursement for the cost Of
the war by the purchase of the Japanese
! military evacuation OF sakhalin continues
:, to be advanced Such a solution would per-
| nit Russia TO say that 1t had. paid neither
indemnity nor ceded foot OF territory.
Spectre of Yellow Peril.
The debate in yesterdays conference over
! the first condition. the recognition of
Japan's preponderating influence over
! Corea, involving it's right to control the ad-
ministraton of the Hermit kingdom, use
the littoral for strategic purposes, etc,
! was of a remarkable character. Indeed the
position taken by M Witte was sensational
! in the extreme. His attitude reveals plainly
/ the Russian tactics. They propose to raise
| before the world the specter Of the yellow
peril" Russia claims that Japan's present
purpose is to get a foothold on the Asiatic
continent from which to extend its influence
and dominion.
M Witte made no objection but he de-
clared words "preponderating influence
| did not adequately describe what Japan
| proposed to do, q, and he insisted that the
| language used should show Japnn's true
purpose which, he contended, was to
| make Japanese province OF Corea. His
argument might be summarized follows:
Russia has no objection to Japan taking
Corea, but you must avow IT plainly IL
1t is to be taken It should be taken off,
cially that the world will understand
| your purpose to take possession of the per-
sons, of the entire administration of the
kingdom, from the emperor down to the
smallest of the people. Corea will have no
representative abroad who can explain
the situation from the standpoint of the
Coreans, all of which means that Corea 10
to belong to Japan So be II. Russia will
not object, but japan should avow a pur-
pose which is against the interests OF
Europe and America, especially against the
interests OF the United States China and
even your ally, England. II this is salts
factory to Europe and America, Russia
raises no protest You propose to destroy
every vestige Of the sovereignty OF the
emperor of Corea, but you desire to employ
!, ! a formula which will conceal your true
purpose. The country which will suffer
most is America, which will understand It
in about ten years. when 1t is too late"
Japanese Take Issue.
To this argument Baron Komura dis
sented most vigorously, although in the
most friendly manner, contending that
Japan only sought to secure for itself in
Corea the commercial and Industrial po-
sition to which It was entitled and TO aid
In its civilization and development as weu
, as to protect the kingdom from admin
. istrative anarchy.
The fact-that the Corean question should
! be the first to be discussed in the peace
conference is strangely htting. as 1t was
, over Corea that the long struggle between
( Russia and Japan. which eliminated Ia
i the present bloody war, began. After
/ Japan was forced out Of Port Arthur and
e Lao Tung in 1885 both became suspicious
$ OF the intention Of the others influence in
n Corea and first in the Lebanon agree
ment in 1885 and later In the Nissi Rosen
! agreement Of 1898 they entered upon mu-
, ! tual obligations. In the former Japan Sc
cured the right to protect the imperial
family and to build the seoul-Fusan tels-
graph and Russia to establish telegraph
| lines from Seoul 10 the Russian frontier.
In the latter, while there we're mutual
obligations TO protect the Independence ana
J. territorial integrity Of Corea, Japan's in
e dustrial and commercial position In Corea
l. was recognized.
+ Reasons for secrecy.
+ The japanese version Of the origin and
o history OF the decision OF the plenipoten-
e tiaries to observe the strlctest secrecy re
l. garding the proceedings Of the peace con
y ferer ce differs materially from the Rus
p sian. From an authoritative Japansse
le source the Associated Press Is informed
p that secrecy was one Of the conditions ar
10 ranged between the representatives OF the
-e two countries at Washington before the
n plenipotentaries arrived IN this country
one Of the chief reasons, advanced BY Count