The San Francisco call., 1905-08-22
Peace Issue to
Be Decided
To-Day.
CARS FINAL
WORD SPOKEN
Replies to Pres
ident' S Prop
osition.

ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 22.-The Rus
sian Governments final statements to De
Witte, outlining the course that he shall
pursue at the reopening Of the peace con-
ference at Portsmouth. are still In pro-
cess of being put into cipher, prior to be-
Ing forwarded to America With the re-
ceipt Of St. Petersburgs last message
the brief breathing spell will have ended.
st. Petersburg leaves the 1nal word with
her representative at Portsmouth.
When the nature OF these communica-
tions becomes generally known it will be
seen that, IN a sincere desire to effect
satisfactory settlement. the Government
has gone as far as it's extremely vital
state interests will permit 1t can be
further said that. for this reason. the
Government is firmly convinced that in
case of failure of the negotiations the re-
sponsibility will not rest with Russia.
which has conceded much already. While
1t is impossible to learn the actual con-
tents of the Government s communication
to De Witte, 1T can be declared that the
requirements Of the state make conces-
sions on the questions of Indemnity and
Saghahen. as those questions were orig
inally presented by the japanese. i'm
possible.
1t is certain that in the matter OF con-
cessions the four points now In dispute
have been considered and studied in the
light OF concessions Russia already has
granted on the other eight articles
The foregoing is brief. but accurate.
outline of the platform upon which De
wftte will meet the Japanese pTenipoten-
tfaries to-day.
Baron Rosen's reports regarding his In
terview with President Roosevelt have
been received here, and their perusal by
the Government has only increased their
feeling Of gratitude and appreciation for
President Roosevelt's continued efforts.
Baron Rosens communications to the
Emperor are such as do not require
special answer.
A hopeful feeling was especially no.
tfced here yesterday that peace was still
possible, and IL is believed by some that
Russia's answer will give material evil
dence of such a sincere desire to reach
a settlement that Japan practically will
be forced to accept it or appear before
the world as utterly unreasonable and
Unsuitable.
1t is believed that the question of the
surrender of interned ships and the limi-
tation of Russia'S naval power in the
Far East will be satisfactorily settled
There then remain the question of the
payment of indemnity and the cessiOn of
Saghalien by Russia The first may be
overcome by Russia following Japan's
lGdQ IN aVOlQluS the use VI lHC WOhU III
demnity," but consenting to make certain
payments to Japan on other scores. the
chief of these being Japan's bin for keep
ing 100O0O prisoners. which is expected to
be very heavy. The sums mentioned as
tie possible payment on account of these
prisoners range from s50,OU0.OO0 to $780,
OQOOOO Little or nothing is obtainable
here regarding the possible disposition
of the question relating to Saghalien.
Interest has been manifested lately in
the attitude of the Japanese people, and
1t is recognized in some quarters that the
Japanese Government and plenipotentis-
ries may have to shape their course to
meet and satisfy the demands voiced by
the Japanese public
There Is reason to believe that the idea
that Japan might not be able to find
money to continue the war mas not been
considered here as a serious weakness Of
the Japanese position