The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-26
APPEAL IS MADE
TO JAPAN TODAY
Argument Made that the Islanders
Can Afford to Be Mag
unanimous.
INDEMNITY CLAIM
MUST BE RENOUNCED
Yelled Promises from st. Peters,
burg that something>Will
Then Be Done.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 26.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt s intercession at Peter
hof and Toxic has not been successful,
but enough progress has been made to
insure the prolongation of the nego-
tiations beyond today.
Something Has Been Accomplished.
A certain result has been achieved
at ST. Petersburg, but if there is
change her attitude.
The re-purchase of the northern half
Of Saghalien island still points clear
road to the only possible compromise,
but it must be purely a business trans
action, not claim for indemnity in
disguise.
There had not been the slightest indi-
cation up to IL O'Clock this morning
that Emperor Nicholas would recede
from his announced determination not
to pay tribute under any form. And,
judge, there is not the slightest pros
pect Of a change.
Is This Trap for Japan7
If Japan would bend, if she would
renounce formally her demand for Gre
endorsement for the cost of the war;
by the withdrawal of the price she sets
on the northern half of Saghalien and
frankly make the propositio ion to sell
difficult to see how Emperor Nicholas,
having already acceeded to the other
conditions proposed, could refuse to
entertain this.
This looks to some of the Japanese
sympathizers as carefully set trap.
&. The Appeal to Japan.
Yet it is argued that Japan could
afford to be magnanimous to avoid
wounding the sensibilities of her adj
versary, and Russia could with dignity
come to an accord on such BASIS.
Japan could not obtain what she de-
sires, perhaps, but the amount she
could secure from the sale, added to
what she could obtain from the Chinese
Eastern railroad and the maintenance
of the Russian prisoners, would certain
ly cover considerable portion of the
cost of the war.
guised claim for indemnity would
greatly strengthen Mr.. Witte g posi-
ton by enabling him, within the let,
ter of his instructions, to press for the
acceptance of such a solution.
MI. Whites Final Proposition.
There is reason to believe that Mr.
W1tte himself has some proposition in
mind. He is said to have stated to a
friend that he held in reserve a final
proposition which, if the Japanese re-
fused to accept, he believed would
make it clear to the world that Japan
not Russia, was responsible for the
rupture. Mr.. Witte s proposition is
not like Mr.. Roosevelt g.
It can also be stated that unless ar
immediate solution is forthcoming, Mr.
Witte does not favor dragging on the
negotiations. Better for the cause OF
peace, in his opinion, to bring the con:
ference to an end. Then he believes
Japan would come to a full realiza
tion of the fact that an indefinite war
involving an immense expenditure
stares her in the face because she re-
fused to renounce her desire to hui
initiate Russia by forcing the payment
of tribute. AS skilled and trained
fnancier, Mr.. Witte evidently counts
much on the exchequer argument.
Russian Attaches Statement.
At - O'Clock one of the Russian at
taches was quoted as saying that tele
grams had been received from St
Petersburg, but that they contained NJ
word which would permit Mr.. WHITE
to offer counter proposition to tn,
Japanese compromise and that unless
the Japanese had new proposal thu
conference was doomed and that today
or Monday would mark the final rup
ture