The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-26

sOciated Press Is permitted 10 announce that Emperor Nicholas answer to Pres ident Roosevelt's latest appeal was par tially responsive.
 Portsmouth, N H., August 25.-The peace conference seems headed straight for the rocks. Despite the fact that every question of principle involved in the quar- rel between these two countries had been settled in favor of the victor and in reality "only words and money stlll separate them. the negotiations seem on the verge of final rupture.
 The air was filled tonight with gloomy forebodlngs as superfcially everything Indicated that tomorrow's session of the conference win prove the "seance q adieu.v In the most positive fashion it is declared that no new instructions had reached M. Witte up to this evening, which would permit him to entertain the consideration of the compromise propo- sition submitted by Baron Komura on Wednesday, and therefore, unless Japan has a new proposal to make tomorrow. all that raems to remain is for the plen- ipotentlaries to meet. sign Q declaration that the conference has completed It's la- bors. shake hands and part as enemies, not SIS friends
 Might Change In Twinklns.
 But there are s;ill unknown clements in the situation which in the twinkling might change the situation. The result of President Roosevet's second appeal di- rect to Emperor Nicholas. has not trans pired and the result of the pressure on
 Iar i. all tla af lat .s..I by the elimination of the purchase price of the northern half of Sakhalln, Is not known. But the indications on both scores are not reassurlng. The press dispatches from Tokio and St. Petersburg are read with the most intense interest here. in- dicating an instragient attitude on tho part of both governments. Yet both are anxious for peace and only words and money bar the path Probably 1t is not a matter of more than S200, ,000.000. Yet tho Japanese cling doggedly to their de- mands. Their people at homo insist upon Ii. The most competent Japanese author ity who did not conceal his pessmism when asked tonight whether for the sake of peace Japan would yield further, re- piled:
 Read the dispatches from Tokio and draw your own conclusions"
 Could Scale Their Price.
 Nevertheless there Is warrant for the statement that they are not as implaca- ble as they Appear, and by a conversa- tion had by the Associated Press. the dIs- tinct impression was gathered that they could scale their money demands and use any formula" which would be ac- ceptable to Russia. It is not believed they propose to let the conference end tomorrow
 on the Russian side all pretense of .I,,t ,t...r gotiating has been abandoned He has gone to the furthermost limit of his irn- perial masters orders. More he cannot do, much as he personally may desire to bring the negotiations to a successful conclusion
 His position Is a difficult and peculiar one He is a statesman of largo ambi- tion. Liberal at heart he is yet a servant of his sovereign. At the present june ture his role is described us like that of Mirabeau. He stands between the King and his people. He obeys his sovereign, but he wants his people to know where tho responsibility for the fate of negotia- tions must rest At tho same time he cannot himself take a firm stand against his sovereign. For this reason and the authenticated history of this conference will bear out this statement he preferred whon first appealed Co by President Roose- welt to have the latter go straight 10 the Emperor with his suggestions. Though perhaps in full sympthy with Mir Roose- welt to have himself appeared in support of it too ardently or even to have open- ly endorsed 1t against his instructions might considering factions about f6e court, which are personally hostile arM jealous of him. have Injured nstead ofsA bcttered the chances
 Come in at Eleventh Hour.
 When the Presidents first effort failed, he did not discourage second made in such a way that the Emperor would have in declining out of courtesy to the President to empower NJ. Witte at least tentatively to proceed with the ne- gotiations, and see if a satisfactory basis could not be made, reserving the last word to himself Should such authority come as at the eleventh hour, NJ. Witte might make the best terms he could, and then figuratively throw a treaty at the Emperor's feet to take or leave, yes or no. As a politician he might not relish the idea of having 1t said when he returned to Russia that he had made a bad He might prefer the Emperor to shoulder that responsibility. But shortly before midnight M. Witte gave absolutely TO encouragement to the Idea that there would he change of heart at St. Peters- burg. Unless Tokio was ready to recede was oyer He used the following words to the Associated Press:
 "T have received no telegram from St. Petersburg which changes the situation. ---~~--~----->--------------