The sun., 1905-08-28
QUESTION Of whether there would be any new
HOPE REVIVED.

QUESTION Of whethor there would be any new
proposals.
s HOPE REVIVED.
While Mr.. Witte has been pessimistio all
along, evidently firmly convinced that the
Portsmouth exchanges would bo futile,
soma mSmbers Of the mission which be
heads have expressed the view that rather
than zee the negotiations fail the Japanese
would make 'concessions CT character
sufficiently r,oderate 10 pave the way
to the arrangement ts peace treaty.
Yesterday, however, even the hopeful
persons admitted that they we're mistaken
and c.rly to-day they frankly declared
that en- agreement was an impossibility.
But the action of tho japanese envoys In
securing postpcnemcnt has brought them
back. to the optimistic ground which they
previously occupied.
Still they are emphtic In saying that
there can be no peace unless the Japanese
waive tho claim to remuneration for the
expenses which they have incurred in
prosecuting tie war. Mr.. Witte has de-
clared over and over again and is still de-
claring that Russia will never agree to pay
q penny OF tribute to Japan, and he Is ap-
parently Of the belief that the Toxic Govern
ment will not consent to make a treaty
unless it receives good round sum.
There are some people here who are
accusing Mr.. Witte Of not being overanxious
to make peace under any circumstances,
but his we'll known stand against the course
Of his Government In enga ging in the Far
Eastern enterprise which brought about
the war and his public statements that he
vas anxious to see the Portsmouth con-
ference result suooe ssfully, are regarded as
showing that he was not playing . game
Of pretense for the purpose Of ascertaining
the terms which Japan had to offer.
As matters stand now the Russians, while
naturally impressed by the significance OF
the request of the Japanese ENJOYS for q
post ponement look upon this arrange
mept as simply deferring the end for very
brief period. The Japanese are not telling
what they may have to say when the con-
ference again assemblies, 30 that II they
have anything important to offer on Tues
day afternoon it will probably remain
secret until then.
RoosEvELTs EFFORTS.
President Roosevelt's tenacity Of purpose
in connection with the nego tiations is not,
however, without it's effect upon the envoys
Of both belligerents.
They see in the influence which the Presi-
dent wields as the executive head Of great
power, the chance Of reaching an UNDER
standing that will bring the war to close.
From all that has develo ped at Portsmouth.
there Is little. il any, reason to doubt that.
both warning nations are anxious for peace.
Certainly the Japanese desire that the
Portsmouth negotiations shall not fail.
Within the past few days Baron Komura
and Mr.. Takahira have shown a conciliatory
spirit that Is encouraging to those who are
praying for a successful conclusion of the
current exchanges They have doubtless
been influenced in this attitude by President
Roosevelt's efforts, and it is believed in
some quarters that they will go to great
Lengths to conform to the President's wishes.
The request Of the President. transmitted
Baron Kaneko, that the next meet
ing of the envoys be postponed for another
day. marks a renewal rather than q con-
tinuance Of his work for peace His latest
step came at the blackest hour in the whole
series Of exchanges, and it has turned what
seemed tho certainty Of failure into reason,
slight though it may be. for more hopeful
feeling. The Presidents definite proposals.
to the ENJOYS have not been fully disclosed,
but they arc regarded by those who know
what they are as 80 reasonable that Russia
and Japan would be stingingly rebuked
BY the public opinion Of the civilized world
Il they were rejected.
BUssIA's oFYER.
The conversation yesterday between
Mr.. Witte and Baron Komura, at which
the only others present were interpreters,
was not made . matter of record and moth
ing in regard to 1t will appear in the Of
hoial proceedings of the conference. 1t
was at this interview that Mr.. Witte is
to have proposed to settle the
Indemnity and territorial cession ques-
lions by the transfer Of part Of sakhalin
Island to the Japanese and the payment
By Russia Of liberal amount for the sx-
psnse to which Japan was put in caring
for prisoners of war. That such q pro-
posal was not acceptable to the Japanese is
Indicated by the declarations Of Russians
that the negotiations were a failure and
would be brought to formal conclusion
1t the next meeting.
Mr.. Takahira, the junior Japanese envoy,
was asked tonight II Russia had offered
to pay fifty million dollars 10 the Japanese
b compensation for the keep Of Russian
prisoners. He said he hadn't heard Of 1t.
Mr.. Takahira took occasion to make some