The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-28

tinuance of the war will be practically
decided at the first business meeting of
the Washington conference which will
convene at the navy yard, Portsmouth,
N. H., about August 5th. Baron Kom-
ura will on that occasion communicate
to NJ. Witte, the essentials of Japan s
peace terms for further negotiations
This it is declared will not be done in
a spirit of defiance, indeed, there are
many evidences in the possession of
the neutral governments that Japan is
coming to the war conference, not im1
bued with desire to humiliate Russia,
but only to exact terms which will in
sure lasting peace in the Far East,
and which will in a measure compen-
safe Japan for the financial losses in
the present conflict.
1t is known that Japan will demand
an indemnity that will approximately
cover the cost of the war to date. Thia
was communicated to Russia early III
the preliminary negotiations. The
amount is still a secret, but it is based
upon the most careful estimates Of the
costs of the war and will be accompa-
1;ied by a more Or less detailed state
ment showing the method by which
the final figures were computed. II
will not fall far short of one billion
dollars, according to advices reaching
here from we'll Informed sources. Be
sides the indemnity, it is believed, Ja-
pans other essentials to the cQntinu'
/ ance Of the negotiations are the ces'
sion to Japan Of Sakhalien, of the Lilac
Tung peninsula and of the railway as
far as Harbin; the recognition Of ia.
pans predominating influence in Korea
and the return of Manchuria to China.
If the Russian plenipotentiaries are
prepared to accept these essentials, the
officials here are confident that the
basis will be laid for negotiations sure
to lead to the signing of the treaty of
Washington, bringing peace to the Far
East.
AS for the subjects remaining to be
discussed a tedious one, it is believed,
and one on which Russian will be dis
posed to- negotiate with the greatest
tora ton of Manchuria to Chinese con-
troll.
because of the confusion and gen.
eral disorder likely to ensue in the
province after the withdrawal Of the
foreign armies Japan believes that a
certain time will be required in which
to restore public order and the estab-
lishment of a regular system of Chi
nese police administration. During
this period Japan will insist that she
remain in control of administrator OF
the province, at the same time giving
a definite pledge finally to evacuate as
soon as China shall be in position to
take up the reins of government there
and maintain order.
A second subject for the plenipoten-
tiaries to settle will be the surrender
of all the Russian ships now interned
in neutral ports.
Europe believes Japan will demand
the naturalization Of VladivostOk. The
Washington government does not
share in this belief Indeed, in official
circles here the statement is made
without hesitation that such demand
would not be moderate" or reasonable
and it is known that Russia Will not
permit the subject of Vladivostok to
come before the conference. Rather
than submit to Japan's dictation ON
this point, Russia has let it be known
that she would certainly continue the
war.
Little progress has been made in
the direction of an armistice. Japan
has in the most determined manner in
dicated it's unwillingness to consent to
an armistice until her plenipotentiaries
have met the Russians in the confer
ence. The object Of this, it is now ex-
planned in an authoritative quarter, is
because Japan wishes to be assured
that Russia is prepared to negotiate in
seriousness for peace before the Japan
csc commanders yield any of their
ground in the field or give the Russians
time to increase the forces at the
front
New York. July 26-Baron Komu-
IA and Minister Takahira, the Japan
csc peace plenipotentiaries, will make
an informal visit to President Roose-