The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-08-26


reply il q neantixe ono can be obtained,
and Is mus ~ accepted with Al 70
serve
~Poftsm0uth, Aug. 24.-TheaJaponl
ESQ plenipotentiafies at the conclusion
OF the afternoon session Of the peace
conference yesterday threw the cards
upon the table. It was the dramatic
moment, the moment to which all the
previous proceedings Of the conference
had led.
The protocols involving agreement
upon eight Of the twelve conditions
originally presented By japan had been
signed. One side or the other must
make move, or the plenipotentiaries
had reached the parting Of the ways.
The adversaries faced each other across
the table. OF course it was we'll un-
derstood what would happen. but that
in q way only made it more dramatic.
Enter President Roosevelt.
Figuratively, President Roosevelt
suddenly entered the conference room.
M. Witte sat silent, and the move in
the great diplomatic game passed to
Japan. Baron Komura in few words
explained that Japan, in her great de-
sire for peace, was ready to make Ger
tain notifications Of the original arti-
cles in the hope that Russia could see
it possible to accept them. He pre-
scented in writing to M. Witte the COM
promise proposition which President
Roosevelt had suggested. It was CON-
else and specific, and it followed the
lines outlined in these dispatches.
It offered to withdraw article 9, pro-
viding for the payment by Russia Of
Japan's bill for the cost of the war.
on. condition that Russia would accept
article 5, which provides for the ces-
sion of the island Of Sakhalin, so mod
flied as to include an arrangement for
the repurchase by Russia Of the north
ern half of the island for 1900, 000,-
600 yen-about $500, 0OO, 900. In ad-
dition it offered 70 withdraw entirely
articles II and IL Surrender Of intern
ed warshlps and limitation of Russia 9
sea power in the far East.
It was President Roosevelt's compro.
mise, and M. Witte knew its oontsnts
as we'll as Baron Komura. The ques-
ton Of whether he had been blufing
was put to the test.
Wife Calls 1t . Sham.
Without a moments hesitation M.
Witte explained that the modification
proposed was merely sham, change
Of phraseology, a diplomatic attempt
to "dorer la pilule," and ask Russia
to pay war tribute under another name.
He could not accept it. He told Baron
Komura Russia wanted peace. She
had given the proofs in accepting ev-
cry article involving the issues upon
which the war was fought, but she
could fight, and money for tribute she
would not pay-not q kopeck. he
asked Baron Komura to withdraw all
demands for tribute. And 60 the plen-
ipotentiaries separated to meet again
on Saturday, ostensibly to permit M.
Witte to place in writing, as the rules
Of the conference require, his reply to
the japanese compromise.
In reality the adjournment over the
two days was to give each side an op-
portunity to consult its government for
the last time. The outlook appears
black. Many believe it was never so
black as at the present moment. The
japanese ere not talking. Indeed they
appear to be more taciturn and more
resolute than ever. The only possible
line Of further Japanese concession is
considered to lie in the diminution Of
the amount Of the purchase money de-
manded for the north half Of Sakhs-
lin. The decision rests, therefore, as
it has from the first, with Russia.
Unless the emperor agrees to yield be-
tween now and Saturday the end is
likely to come on that day. And the
indications from Peterhof, instead Of
raising the chances, indicate even q
firmer determination to yield neither
territory nor indemnity. sugar coated
though the latter may be.