The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-08-18
ON INDEMNITY
AND SAKHALIN
Russians Max: Kick as UnSur-
morntable Cor ceSSlons.
APPROVE OTHER DEMANDS
NJ. WHITE Objects 10 Features Of Japa-
neSe Demands difference In Gre
denlials Still in Issue.


Russia's reply to the Japanese terAls
Of peace was delivered by Mr..
Witte to Baron Komura at $50
o'clock Saturday morning. The re-
ply is written in two texts, one in
French and the other in English.
Upon two crucial points, indemnity
and the cessien Of the island OF SAX.
halin, the reply is an absolute non
possimus. Other points are accepted
as bases for discussion, while others
are accepted cond!tionally.
The reply is rather long, because
enumerating the conditions upo.
which discussion is admitted and
those upoa which consideration is de-
clined, reasons and arguments are
given.
The tactics Of the Japanese are in
scrutable. 1ney have shown through.
out the war this ability TO guard their
secrets, military, naval and diplomat
ic, and now not the remotest clew
comes from behind Their closed doors
as TO whether they are prepared 20
make substantial concessions. Silence
and secrecy are their watchwords.
A very remarkable state of AFFAIRS
Japanese plenlpotentiaries, aud the
end is not yet.
Notwithstanding the previous Off.
Cial statement that with the exchange
OF credentials ali difficulties on that
point had been removed, the Associat.
ed Press learhs authori,atively that
the matter still is in issue. After the
failure of Baron Kumura to produce
his credentials at the first session on
Wednesday, an English copy was com.
municated TO NJ. Wiue with the state
ment that it was a copy, but that It,
was in no wise attestCd.
At Thursdays session, Baron no.
mura submitted the original in Jap
anese but, of course, no member OF
the Russian mission could read 1t. NJ.
y .
while in Russian, were accompanied by
a certified copy in French, which bore
the signature OF Count Lamsdorh. the
Russian minister OF foreign affairs. NJ.
Wltte has re .urnCd TO Baron Komur1
the copy OF the la;ters credentials in
the expectation that he would forth.
with receive an attes.ed copy OF the
translation, but UP TO noon Friday he
had received nothing.
The difference in the powers CON
ferred on the two plenipotenlaries
also raises a delicate point, and Que
Of the greatest moment. In the Rus.
sian credentials the emperor pledges
his word OF honor 20 sign any treaty
which receives the approval OF NJ
Witte. The power conferred upon NJ
Wike TO negotiate and conclude
treaty Of peace Is absolute.
Baron Komuras credentials, on the
contrary, specifically provide that any
treaty negotiated by Baron Komura
must receive the imperial ratification
OF the emperor OF Japan.
IhlS divergence IN the CHARACTER OF
the credentials is so vital that NJ.
Wit;e has communicated TO Baron 10
mura an ofncial diplomatic note whore.
in he notifies the japanese chief plen!-
potentiary that while he stands ready
to exercise the full powers conferred
upon him, in view OF the Limitation
placed upon the powers OF Japans
chief negoiiators, he regards II az
only proper tina, he should consider
his powers limited in the same way.
In other words, unless the powers Of
Baron Komura are increased TO make
them coequal with those conferred
upon NJ. Wittc, Emperor Nicholas viii
have the right to ratify or reject any
Nr.- ~ That 10 nppnl lai cd