The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-12
PEACE TOTTERS,
Next Meeting of the ENJOYS May
Be the Last.
Witte Delivers His Answer to
Baron Komura.
Today's Session Lasted Less
Than an Hour.
HE WANTS NO DELAY.
Cars Envoy Insists on an Early
Response.
The Japanese Remain to Look
Over the Document.
Oyama Is Ready to Fight II
Conference Fails.
HE WANTS NO DELAY
Cars Envoy Insists on an Early
Response.
The Japanese Remain to Look
over the Document.
Oyama Is Ready to Fight If
Conference Fails.

Portsmouth, N. H, Aug. 1.-THE
meeting of the peace conference this
morning, as indicated in the dispatches
last night. was brief. 1t lasted a little
more than an hour. The Russian re-
ply was delivered by NJ. Witte and the
meeting was adjourned to give Baron
Komura and his colleagues oppor-
tunity to examine the document. M.
Witte indicated corteously that he
would expect the same expedition in
the Japanese response as had been OBJ
served in the preparation of the Rus
sian reply, and this was readily assent
ed to. The Russian plenipotentiaries
Immediately returned to the hotel,
while the Japanese remained at the
navy yard.
Ten minutes after adjournment the
two Russian ENJOYS left the navy
yard in their automobile. The Japa-
nese remained in their suite of pri-
vate offices. Today the Japanese as
sistants went to the navy yard in
launches, taking with them num-
Der of suit cases in which We're docu-
ments and records, indicating that it
is their intention to work today in
their suite of offices in the naval
stores building.
The official statement regarding this
mornings session was given out by
Mr.. Sat0 at 11:15, accompanied by the
explanation that it was an official
statement to which both sides had
agreed. Tt follows:
"In the sitting of Saturday, August
| 18th, their excellencies the plenipoten-
! tiaries of Russia have handed their
reply in writing to the note presented
to them on Thursday by the plenipo-
| tentiaries of Japan 1t has been de-
cided that the next meeting will take
place after the Japanese envoyS have
examined and studied the reply re-
ceived, which will be at 3 o'clock this
afternoon or tomorrow at the same
hour
The correspondent is in a position
I to state that the Japanese believe the
Russians have been laying the foun-
dation for the claim that the reSpon-
sibility for a rupture, if one comes,
will have been due to their intran-
sigeant attitude. They have decided
in case of a break to take steps to dis
prove any such claim.
Too Hot for Them.
The heat was already almost un-
sian plenipotentiaries set out for the
navy yard about o'clock. The mer-
curry was dancing in the nineties on
the veranda of the hotel, not a breath
of air was stirring, bay and shore
seemed swooning in the tropical at
mosphere. The foreigners were fairly
overcome. They were mopping their
brows as they appeared. The heat
evidently affected their temper. The
grim, serious business on hand upon
the issue of which the whole world
waits breathlessly, seemed to be tenn
porarily forgotten in the general exc
Grafton of the weather. M. Witte and
NJ. Takahira, who have suffered par
ticu1arIy from the unprecedented heat
wave which has held this vaunted
summer resort in its relentless grasp
for three days, looked almost worn
out. Baron Komura with NJ. Taxa
hira and M Witte with Baron Rosen
were taken to the navy yard in auto
mobiles, while the secretaries and at
taches went over in launch.
The latter greeted each other on the
wharf but there was little cordiality
and no fraternizing. The few remarks
exchanged were simply the polite amen
tiles and complaints against the wealth
er. When they entered the launch, they
were perforce compelled to again speak
to each other as they were taking their
seats, but before the launch had gone
200 yards almost no attempt at con-
versation had occurred. There was lit
tie to choose between japanese and
Russians in this respect. Their strained