The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-01

Portsmouth, August 2S.-Tomorrow
morning BBarOn Komura, acting upon
instructions received from Toxic, as
. result of tOday's meeting of the cab |
met and Eide statesmen under the
direct presidency Of the Emperor of
Japan. will submit to NJ. White a new |
basis of compromise, and that COM
promise, it is firmly believed tonight, |
will insure peace.
The revelation contained in The AS"
ISOLATED Press exclusive
ment tonight that President Roosevelt
had already Informed Emperor Mich
Olas, through Ambassador Meyer, that
Japan was ready to waive the question
of indemnity and submit the price to
be paid for the northern half of SAX
halin to the judgment of a commits
sion, but prepared the way for Japans
back down upon the main issue. The
announcement had been he sensation
of the day. 1t had met with denials
high and low. 1t vas declared to be
impossible, incredible. The Japanese
declined to admit it, and the Russians
said they had no confirmation. NJ.
Witte intimated strongly that st.
Petersburg had not appraised him OF
any such action by the President.
There was even a disposition to r1dl-
Guile the idea of arbitrating the price
of half of the island. Nevertheless on
all hands it was admitted if Japan
took this position the ground wassc u
gu from under Emperor Nicholas.
NJ. White by consumate skill in con-
ceding all the demands Of Japan IN
yolving the real issues of the wal had
m~anoeuvered his adversarieS into a
position where, unless they
the claims for indemnity, they could
be held responsible for continuing the
war for money.
Then Japan, by not forging the de-
mand for indemnity, practically turns
the tables upon Russia and shifts the
burden back to her shoulders II she
does not consent to submit a minor Is
sue to the imperial judgment OF a trl-
bunal. NJ. Witte publicly dlssents
vigorously from the proposition, anu
there will still be a struggle Will
Peterhof, but if Japan tomorro"
agrees to formally all clalnis
for direct or indirect compensation Ior
the expenses of the wal, the big stuiil-
bling block to peace is out OF the way
Everything will depend upon Ine
form in which the proposal IS suonhl'-
rod Should the remuneration be sc
co,rbled with the other proposition ina
Russia could claim it was still only .
disguised demand for tribute, the gull
MIGHT ONLY be narrowed, not brldged
All the nriyate advices that reach th'
PusSian mission from st. PeterSDuEs
indicate that the military party L
holIicose insistent that L1neV1tcn u
GIVEN n chance, and active III us III
sistence that negotiations be prokei
Oft.
NJ Wife feels the pressure of TIL
sentiment and as a man of ambltlol
he may not feel that he can AFFORD L
Law himself open to the charge that IL
il +emnOrizin% with the situation. II
has Dower under his Instructions I
reject out of hand any proposltlo4 III
yoIving the payment of a kopech q
ribute. He need not consult III
imDerial master. He is a man U
inspiration. and he is quite capapie, y
the Japanese proposition SAVIOR sun =
..blOOd money to refuse even 10 az
cept it for transmission to ST. fe'el'
burg.
But such a stroke is not eXpecle'
NJ. Witte knows that public oplhlo
both in America and Europe as we
as in Russia would condemn MIN
he broke off the negotiations just Z
the way was opened for q posslo
accord. -.
While apparently the real neso.i'
lions leading up to today'S denOu'
ment were conducted by the Presldei
at Oyster Bay, acting through BARI
Kaneko on the one hand and AmDa
sador Meyer on the other. it is no
believed that much has been going
beneath the surface here. Anoth'
indication of the sudden turn in Il
events was the arrival here tonight
Frank \. Vanderlip, vice president
the City National Bank of New 1or
He registered at the hotel as "jol
howard" and after dinner went
M Whites room and remained the
one hour. When asked his mlssl'
Mr. Vanderlip said he was only !
+orested'' in the situation. He d
met NJ. Witte several years ago WI
he was at the head of he Russian
nance ministry and had also seen n
in New York upon his arrival. He ID
talked with him about the sltuati