New-York tribune., 1905-08-29


est of peace. This announcement was made
this evening by the official spokesman Of the
Japanese mission, NJ. Sato, who added that this
was in accordance with instructions received
from Toxic this evening, which instructions
conveyed to the Japanese plenipotentaries the
decision reached by the Mikado and his Cabinet
at Toxic to-day. The envoys will meet at $50
o'clock tomorrow morning, when the japanese
proposition will be laid before the Russian
plenipotentiaries. The extent and character Of
the concessions which the Japanese have been
instructed to make are carefully withheld
1t is authoritatively denied that Japan has at
any time yielded her demand that Russia defray
the cost of the war, either by payment for
that purpose or by paying S60o,0Oo,Oo0 for the
northern half of Saghalien. Reports TO the ef-
feet that President Roosevelt, by the authority
of Japan. advised the Gar that Japan would
waive all indemnity or reimbursement and
delegate to an arbitral board the valuation of
the northern half of Sa ghalien are declared by
Minister Takahira and N. Witte to be IN
founded
That the President suggested that the four
articles on which Russia and Japan were I'M
able to agree be. submitted to a board consist
ing of one representative of each of the belig-
erents and of third person to be agreed upon
by them, but with no obligation on either side
to abide by the advice of such board is true.
and it is said that the rumor referred to must
have grown out of this fact The Presidents
suggestion was promptly rejected by the Gar,
who declined absolutely even to permit his en-
voys to discuss the Japanese demand that Rus
sa defray the cost of the war.
The impression strongly prevails among the
Russians in Portsmouth that the President has
departed from the role of the great and good
friend of both nations. They maintain that
he has recently sought almost TO eoerce Russia
into accepting terms in his estimation reason
able The impression further prevails in this
quarter that the report that Japan had offered
to submit to arbitration the sum to be paid for
the northern half of Saghalien. while abandon
ing all claim that the cost of the war be de-
frayed by Russia. emanated from Oyster Bay,
but became confused in transmission. The Japa-
nese. on the other hand. speak in the most
grateful terms of the Presidents efforts in be-
half of peace, and maintain that he has been
a faithful and an impartial friend to both
belIgerents.
In the absence of definite knowledge regard
in; The extent of the concessions which the
Japanese ENJOYS have been instructed to make,
it would be purely idle conjecture to attempt
to forecast the results of to-morrOw's session.
~, -
iubiIant this evening and declare with greater
emphasis than ever that under no clrcuu-
stances will they even consider any plan which
involves the defrayment of any portion of the
expenses of the war They are confident,
though. that the Japanese ENJOYS have been
instructed to give way entirely this point
and to content themselves with, at the most, a
moderate payment in redemption of the north
ern hale Of Saghalien.
Throughout the latter part of the afternoon
there were indications of intense excitement
among the Japanese. Baron Komura preserved
apparent unconcern but Minister Takahira
dIned in his apartments and sent word to call
ers that he was extremely fatigued. Leading
men in the Japanese mission have been heard
expressing severe condemnation of Marquis
Ito and other well known Japanese statesmen,
and there are strong indications that the in
structions received from Toxic this evening
were most unwelcome to a majority of the
Japanese mission in Portsmouth
The present Cabinet of Japan will fall what
ever may be the outcome of these negotiations
according to the statements of well posted
Japanese. The people of Japan will keenly re-
sent further concessions to Russia. but they
resent those already granted, and they would.
also. seek the downfall of the Cabinet were the
negotiations TO fail. For this reason, it is
argued. II is unlikely that the popular demon
strations and newspaper utterances, of which
this mornings dispatches brought news, had
any effect in determining the course Of the
AIikado and his advisers.
There is a general impression that japan must
be prepared TO yield all claim to indemnify
under any name whatsoever. This appears,
however. TO be based on the belief that the
Japanese ENJOYS have accepted as final the
declaration of NJ witte that Russia will never
consider any proposition which, even in veiled
form. contains provision for indemnity. While
this may be So il is equally true that the de
termination 10 make further concessions was
arrived at by the Mikado and his advisers in
Toxic and not by the plenipotentiaries in Ports
mouth. and it is possible that the former may
not have regarded NJ. Whites declaration as