Fergus County argus., 1905-09-01
Plan Of President for Bringing About
Peace Between Japan and Rus
sia Made Public.
SCHEME Is AN INGENIOUS ONE
It Would Give Japan Reimbursement
for Expenses Of the War With.
out "Indemnity."


veal substantially the suggestion OF
President Roosevelt for breaking the
existing deadlock in the peace nego-
uations, and rescuing the conference
from failure. His solution would in
geniously permit the satisfaction of
the japanese demands for reimburse
ment for the cost of the war and at
the same time enable Russia to face
the world with the declarations that
she had not ceded foot Of territory
of paid a kopek of war tribute to the
victor. The solution is the one which
has heretofore been described as the
natural and logical compromise. Ierse-
ly stated, it consists in an agreement
by Russia to repurchase possession
of either all or half of the island OF
Sakhalin now in the military occupa
tion of Japan, for sum the amount
of which, if the two countries cannot
agree. shall be decided by some meth
cd of arbitration hereafter to be de-
termined. The purchase money, to-
gether with the sum Japan would OBJ
tain from the cession of the Chinese
eastern railroad and the maintenance
of the Russian prisoners in Japan
would, it is estimated about equal
the amount claimed by Japan upon
article five Che cession of Sakha-
linz, and recession by Russia upon
article nine Indemnity. 1t seems
practically certain, though THIS can
not be affirmed positively, that the
president today was able to give M.
Witte substantial assurance that ia
pan would be willing to accept such
a compromise.
This is apparently supported by the
authoritative Japanese statement,
made to the Associated Press tonight
in reply to a question as to whether
Japan had not decided to make sub
stantial concessions, that it all de-
pends on Russia.
President to Witte.
1t was the presidents message 10
NJ. Witte which caused the sensation
of the day Early in the morning
had come the official announcement
that the meeting of the conference
which was to have been held today
had been postponed until tomorrow at
$3.50 o'clock. The public reason as
signed was that the protocols Tor sub
mission at the sitting had not been
completed But few hours later the
true reason leaked out. j. l.. McGrew
one of the stenographers attached tc
the executive office had arrived with
communication from the president
for the Russian plenipotentiaries. M
Witte and Baron Rosen had left the
hotel. ostensibly for a ride in an au
tomobile to York Beach, but instead
had quietly slipped over to the confer
ence building at the navy yard to re
ceive the message from Assistant Sec
retary Pierce. The most elaborate
precautions had been taken to insure
secrecy, but it leaked out through {
tip from New York, which reached
the Associated Press. From 1926
until 1:1O NJ. Witte and Baron Ros
en- remained at the conference build
ing with Mr.. Pierce.
All those present declined to make
any statement regarding what trans
pired at the navy yard, even refusing
to admit that any importance was at
tached to the matter. NJ Witte woul'
only admit that he had gone to tn
building 'to send message" an
Baron De Rosen and Mr.. Pierce al
solutely refused to make any state
ment. Mr. McGrew took the 2:3
train to Boston. whence. accordin
to reports, he took the Merchants
limited. after first inquiring at the il
telligence office for the connections
Oyster Bay.
He carried a dress suit case, whic
probably contained the reply to tn
president. This reply. it is believed
was prepared by NJ. Witte and Baro
De Rosen. after Mr.. Pierce had dt
livered to the mthe presidents me!
sage. A suggestion is made that du
ing the stay at the navy yard the Ru.
sian plenipotentiaries were in con
munication with the president by te
egraph. but there is nothing to sui
stantiate this and, under the circun
stances. it appears unlikely. NJ
Roosevelt's message to NJ. Witte an
Baron De Rosen is believed to hav
been the result of his interview We
terday at Oyster Bay with Baron Kal
exc, one of Marquis Ito's close friend
who has acted as the presidents M
dium of communication with the T.
kio government.
Story is Unfounded.
A story was in circulation at II
hotel this afternoon to the effect tn;
Baron kaneko's secretary. Mr.. Sab
was here in communication with II
japanese plenipotentiaries and al.
with Mr. Pierce, but investigation d
veloped the fact, although Mr.. Sa
had been here week ago, he W;
not here today. 1t has been ascertai
ed here that, in addition to the pre-.
dents communication to NJ. Wit
through Baron De Rosen last Satu
day and by messenger today me
sages directly to Emperor Nichols
have been delivered by Ambassad
Meyer at ST. Petersburg, but no of
cial confirmation is obtaipable. T.
general disposition was to view
days swift and Kaleidoscope develC
ments as materially Frightening I
chances of the success of the pre-
dents endeavors to save the pea
conference from failure. But it W
realized that all. as before. depend
upon the attitude of Emperor Nit
Olas and his advisers. NJ. Witte, it
positively stated, personally fave
the solution offered by the preside
but he is powerless unless his imp
ial master gives the word. With t
to-