Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-19
Only Pressure from Outside Can Avert
Break in Negotiations
POWERS ARE PROBABLY At WORK
President Has Long Conference with Mr..
Peirce by Telegraph,
JAPANESE STAND BY ORIGINAL TERMS
In the six Days Discussion They
Have Yielded NothinE-RussiR
Accepts seven COndi-
tions Outright.

PORTSMOUTH, ~ H., Aug. 1s.-Black
pessimism reigns at Portsmouth tonight
The prevailing view is that the fate OF the
peace conference II already sealed. that il
has ended in failure and that all that now
remains is for the plenipotentiaries 70 meet
on Tuesday, to which day they adjourned
this afternoon, upon completing the seriatim
consideration Of the Japanese terms sign
the final protocol go through the conven-
tions and bid each other farewell. In other
words, that the meeting Tuesday will be
what diplomacy calls the "seance d'adieu,'
but there is still room for hope of COM
promise. Neither President Roosevelt nor
the powers will see the chance of peace
shipwrecked without final effort and that
pressure is being exerted especially at
Toxic to induce Japan TO moderate its
terms is beyond question. Just what IL
being done or is to be done has not trans
pired King Edward is understood to be
now lending a helping hand and the fnan-
ciers Of the world are known to be exerting
all their influences At TOXIC and St. Peters
burg the final issue will be decided. The
Japanese have been implacable throughout
the six days slttings. They have listened
and explained, but they have yielded not an
iota of the substance OF their original de-
mands NJ. Witte accepted outright seven
Of the twelve japanese conditions. one in
principle and four. including the main is
sues. indemnity and sakhalin he rejected.
The other the Limitation Of sea power and
the surrender of interned ships, might have
been arranged had there been any prospect
of agreement on the two points upon which
the divergence seemed irreconcilable.
Both Ask Instructions.
In the oral discussion Of the terms, NJ
Witte yielded upon two more articles, out
substantially the result OF the thirteen sit
tings of the plenipotentaries has only beea
to emphasize the position taken by M.
Witte in the written reply lac presented
last Saturday to the Japanese terms And
now, both sides turn to home for the last
word before the cards are thrown face up
ward upon the table next Tuesday, for the
impasse reached today by the plenipoten-
tiaries is recognized to be only a diplo-
matte fiction. If in the interim fresh in
structions are received by either side. COM
promise is yet possible. But the chances
are recognized 10 be slim. SO far the
Russian plenipotentiaries are concerned.
there never was a chance OF their yielding
! both indemnity and sakhalin. The cession
of Sakhalin without indemnity, was. ac-
| cordng to the best inside information. the
extreme limit to which NJ witte would
ever consent to go, and the emperor has
/ not yet given the word even TO concede
I that. And tonight, suddenly a new factor
| has been introduced, which, in the opinion
! OF those most competent to Judge. lessons
materially the chances that he might do so.
namely the issuance OF his manifesto
granting a popular representative body to
his subjects The bearings Of this his
! toric document" as NJ. Witte described II a
| few days ago upon the issue are easily
! fa IN fa
! the internal situation in Russia. 1t is the
! entering wedge for the realization OF the
| century old dream OF the Russian people
! 1T will create enthusiasm at home" said
| one Of the most prominent members of tho
Russian mission, because all thinking men
believe that it means eventually a great
! change in the composition OF the Russian
state. It Will be followed by a true parlia-
ment, a responsible ministry. a premier and
Russia will become a constitutional mon
Manifesto Well Timed.
| 1t is pointed out that the manifesto is
| timed like what the French call coup de
foudre, and that its significance is too
plain to be questioned. 1t was to have
been Issued last Saturday when the Rus
sian reply was presented but II was held
over until the conclusion OF ~the oral con-
sideration Of the Japanese terms Mean
time the terms had been published every
where throughout Russia The press even
the liberal press had replied that Russia
could not pay money for the privilege OF
| getting out of Manchuria. The emperor
had publicly proclaimed TO his subjects on
July 2s in reply TO a telegram Of the Orem-
burg clergy: The Russian people can
rely upon me, I will never conclude a
peace humiliating or unworthy OF great
Russia"
The manifesto is Emperor Nicholas an
swer TO the Japanese demand for the pay
ment Of a war tribute. The grant Of this
broad reform is considered as virtually an
appeal TO the Russian people for support to
resist It,
At Toxic Il is Impossible 10 tell what
view will be taken. Peace probably can be
even now secured by the sacrifice OF the
indemnity. Vague intimations tonight come
from the japanese side that "the demand
for the cost Of the war might be moder-
ated. but NJ Whites reply is that he will
pay literally for the maintenance OF the
Russian prisoners in Japan, but not a
kopeck for tribute"
Views of Both sides.
The gravity OF the situation from the
Japanese point OF view is contained in the
following authoritative statement given TO
the Associted Press:
! l cannot say positively, because all things
are possible. but fear that the meeting on
Tuesday will be the farewell session OF the
} Washington conference. japan has done It's
: utmost for peace. Russia now knows
Japan's irreducible minimum
NJ. Witte himself tonight gave not the
slightest encouragement. For publication
ne said
we meet Tuesday only 70 sign the pro-
tocol." with the accent on the word "only.
] Another bad sign was the change In the
. personal attitude Of the plenipotentiaries
' toward each other. During the week they
have been growing more and more friendly
al the luncheon which they take together at
' the navy yard. This conversation was lively
| and even gay al times Today they sat to.
N