The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-14
Witte Wanted to Observe
 Sabbath. TEXT OF DISCUSSION Russians Set Up Loud Howl
 of Yellow Peril. Urre Baron Komura to Play ODesU and Say Japan Wants to 0os-
 blc Up Korea--stiii
 Have Hope.

| Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. ls.--Ne | prorress has been made with the peace neTotiations over Sunday. They stand exactly where they did last night The session of the plenipotentiartcs which was to have been held this even- inr was postponed by mutual agree ] ment out of reverence to tho fact tnax | it was the holy Sabbath, which Is uni l versafly observed in Russia as day or rest. The Russians had not peen | anxious for session today and tnis morning the Japanese took the initia- tive and through the intermediary or Mir Pierce, 1t was decided to postpono | the sitting until tomorrow morning. The situation therefore remains the same, It would perhaps not De too much to say that the general feeling is | hopeful in spite of open predictions made by persorages in confidence wltn | both sides of the negotiations and tna1 before next Sunday the plenipotentt- aries will reach an .mpasse where rupture will become inevitable. This pessimistic view is based upon the fact that so far as known the two big barriers on an agreement, in- demnity and Sakhalin, remain as high | and insurmountable as ever, the real | struggle Is only postponed. The main problems are no nearer solution than | when the pienipotentiaries met The reason for optimism lies in the fact | that confronted with the absolute re- | fusal of Russia to admit the discussion of either indemnity or cession of sax halin the Japanese proposed to take up the consideration of the conditions se- | riatum.
 ! From this it Is assumed that the Jap- anese are prepared to yield or have rsa- son to believe way would be found to overcome the objection of their ad- yersaries when the crucial test comes. | An tnt tftro 9OUFC0 that very strong outside influences are at work on both sides and that for the moment the effort is to gain time. The plan of having Russia practically sat- isfy the Japanese claim of rein1burse- ment for the cost of the war by.t the, purchase of the Japanese military evac- aiation of Sakhalin continues to pa 1 advanced Such a solution would per- init Russia to say she had paid neither indemnity nor ceded foot of territory.
 Debate wns Remarkable.
 The debate in yesterdays conference over the first condition, the recognt- tion of Japanese protectorate over Korea. involving her right to controi the administration of the Hermit King dom, 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 |
 Russia claims that Japan's political purpose is to get a foothold on the Asiatic continent from which to ex- tend her dominion. NJ. Witte made no objection but declared the words pre- ponderating influence" did not ade- quately describe what the Japanese ] proposed to do, and he insisted thae the language used should show Japan's true purpose, which he contended was to make a Japanese province of Korea His argument might be summarized as follows:
 Russia has no objection to Korea, but you must avow 1t plainly. If IF Is to be taken it should be taken ofi- cially so that the world will under stand your purpose to take possession of the entire administration from the Emperor down to the smallest of the people.
 Korea will have no representatives abroad that explain the situation from the standpoint of Koreans ar all, which means Korea is to belong to Japan. So be it. Russia will not object but Ja- pan should avow a purpose which ts against the interests of the United States, Europe. especially against the interest of the Uieted States. China. and even your ally. England.
 "If this is satisfactory to Europe and America, Russia raises no protest. You propose to destroy every vestige | Korea but you desire to employ a for mula which will conceal your true pur- pose The country which will suffer most is America, which will understand 1t in about ten years when 1t is too late"
 Komuras Argument.
 To this argument Baron Komura dis- sented. most vigorously, although in the most friendly manner. contending that Japan, only sought to secure for herself in Korea the ommercial and industrial position to which she was entitled and to. aid In its civilization and develop ment as well as to protect the kingdom from administrative anarchy The fact that the Korean question should be the first to be discussed in the peace conference Is strangely fitting as in reference to Korea, that the long strug- gle between Russia and Japan which culminated in the present bloody war, began after Japan got out Of Port Arthur and Liaon Tung in 1895. Each became suspicious of the intention of the others influence in Korea and first in the Lobaniff agreement of 1896 and later in the Nissi-Rosen agreement of 1898. they entered upon mutual obliga- tIons In the former Japan secured the right to protect the imperial family and to build the Seoul-Fqsan telegraph and Russia to establish telegraph line from Seoul to the Russian frontier.
 In the latter, while there were mutual obligations to protect the independence and territorial integrity of Korea, Japan's industrial and commercial posi- ton in Korea was recognized. Ever since Korea has been the bone of con- tention Japan has always been sus- picious of Russian encreachment At last the continued occupation of Man churia by Russia and the Yalu Lumber Concessions induced Japan to try te come to a definite settlement with Rus sia in the negotiations preceding reS9 war.
 They proved futile and In the Japa- nese imperial rescript declaring war; the Fmperor of Japan said: The safety | of Korea Is in danger. The iAterests of inc empire are menaeed." Now by
 o-t oP inexorabIe logic the fate Of