The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-29
Peace Conference Is Expected to
End Today.
Ir. Witte Received New Instruc-
tiOns During the Night.
Is LEFT NO LEEWAY.
The Gar Is Standing by Last
Weeks UItimatum.
A New Proposal May Not Receive
Any Consideration.

Portsmouth. Aug. 2s.-The session
of the peace conference began shortly
after 10 O'Clock. The Russians arrived
at the navy yard in their motor car at
$3.50 and the Japanese were there
few minutes afterward.
When the peace plenipotentiaries
started for the conference today there
was a recognition on both sides that
the decisive hour in the fate of the
peace conference had come. Mr..
yitte seemed not in a pleased frame
of mind. He had received new in
structions during the night, reiterat1ng
the old. They left him no leeway. in
less the new Japan proposal met the
emperor's ''ultimatum' as given to
President Roosevelt through Ambassa-
dor Meyer Ono indemnity, but the ces-
sion of half of Sakhalin) he considered
that he had full authority to reject it
fatty without reference to St. Peters
burg.
Mr.. White considered that the en-
peror had fgurativeIy burned his
bridges behind him in the replies he
had given to the head of the American
republic. His superior having thus COM
mitted himself, Mr.. White felt himself
tied hand and foot. Unless the Jap
anese proposal this morning, therefore,
comes strictly within his instructions he
would according to his views not only
be justified in refusing but be compelled
to refuse it. Diplomatically he would,
according to the Russian counsel, have
that right. To proud man like White
the position was insufferable. He was
playing a dogs comedy he said to
friend
May Throw DIP His Job.
But he is a man of passion, a man
who acts sometimes upon sudden i'm
pulses, and he is quite capable at the
critical moment of disregarding the
letter of his instructions and laying
them at the feet of his majesty, and
thus in the face of the world forcing
the emperor to take the RESPONSE
bility. None knows as well as he that
the emperor's advisers are trying to
poison his majesty's mind against him.
None knows as we'll as he that the
military party is demanding con-
tinuatiOn of the war and that if he
disobeys the letter of his instructions
he will be accused of temporizing. He
will be charged with being willing to
make peace at any price No pleni-
potentiary at such a crisis was ever
placed in so difficult a position. Court
intrigue, the curse of Russia, is again
in play. Even the members of his
encourage could not fathom his in
tentions when he went to the confer
ence today. One of them said:
IF you want my opinion it is ninety
five chances out of one hundred that Mr.
Witte will not even consider the Jap
anese proposals '-eit
Il cannot believe that they will abso-
Iutely waive indemnity and not sub
stitute something in lieu thereof which
will involve money payment by Russia.
And if they offer proposition which
again arrays indemnity in any amount
in a new dress, Mr.. White, I am salts
fed, will not even consider it. He goes
to the conference to listen to what they
have to say. He will take his place at
the conference table and sit silent until
they have finished. That will be the
psychological moment. Then he will
reply. Perhaps he did not himself know
when he left the hotel this morning
what reply he would make"
Just before the conference met the
Associated Press received an intina-
ton that Baron Komura held a strong
card in reserve which would make it
almost impossible for Mr.. White, no
matter how he viewed his instructions,
to reject the second proposal without
submitting it to his emperor. Should
the first proposal be refused the in
formation of the Associated Press is
that Baron Komura would then play
his last trump-a wholesale proposal
to arbitrate all unadjusted propositions
before the conference.
1t is hardly conceivable that Mr..
White would dare to refuse to place
this before the emperor
Press Opposes Compromise.
Toxic. Aug. 29.-Press opinion is
almost unanimous in condemning the
proposal to divide SakhaIi1i in consid-
Grafton of a monetary remuneration.
The Hochi says: ''It would be an
abominable disgrace identical with
selling the national territory. The
country's honor and interest forbid
the continuation of the conference
Should Russia not yield Japan's pa
thence is not without limit
The Asahi advises the breaking of
of the conference owing to Russia's
unreasonable obstinacy." 1.-THE fact
remains indelible," it says, that Japan
has been victorious in war. Japan j:
not impoverished to the extent o.
thirsting after a paltry sum of money
to be paid under the name OF pris-
oners' expenses"
The Nichi Nichi says: 1.-THE ides
of dividing Sakhalin is not to be en-
tertained. An inefficient and unsatis
factory peace simply amounts to tn.
inviting of a future menace to our in
terests. An indemnity must also b'
insisted upon. A strong adherence Il
our demands might invite a rupture
but no other course is open. Unde
the circumstances a rupture is pref
cradle to a patchwork peace. The ma
ton is determined to realize the ain
and purpose of the war and establish
a lasting peace. We trust that tn,
cabinet and elder statesmen who me
in the presence of the emperor yes
terday are united and prepared t.
carry out this national determination
even if it involves the lamentable con
tinuation of the war"
The Kokumin does not believe
rupture of the negotiations will TAX
place and trusts that Russia will yiel
to Japan's fresh proposal. "Other
WISE" it says, Russia must bear tn
whole responsibility for the eontinu
alton of the terrible war"
A Delightful Water Trip.
between Detroit and Buffalo via tn
Detroit and Buffalo Steamboat Com
many without extra expense. (excen
for meals and berth on steamer is tn