Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-24
PEACE IN BALANCE
Decision Now Rests With the
 Emperor of Russia.
JAPAN MAKES LAST CONCESSIONS.
komura Valves Interned Warshipa and Naval Limitation and Asks witte to Accept RooseveIt's
 Compromise.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 24.- The Japanese plenipotentiaries at the conclusion of the afternoon session of the peace conference threw the cards upon the table It was the dramatic moment-the moment to which all the previous proceedings of the conference had led. The protocols involving agreement upon eight of the twelve conditions originally presented by Ja- pan had been signed. One side or the other must make move or the pleni- potentiaries had reached the, parting of the ways. The adyersaries faced each other across the table. Of course it was well understood what. would happen, but that in way only made 1t more dramatic. Figuratively Pres ident Roosevelt suddenly entered the conference room. M Witte sat silent, and the move in the great diplomatic game passed to Japan.
 Baron Komura in a few words e1- plained that Japan in her great desire for peace was ready to make certain "modif1cations" of the original articles in the hope that Russia could find 1t possible to accept them. He then pre- sented in writing to M Witte the com promise proposition which President Roosevelt had suggested. It was con- crete and specific, and it followed the lines outlined in these dispatches. It offered to withdraw article g, provid- ing for the payment by Russia of Ja- pans bill for the cost of war on con- dition that Russia would accept arti- cle 5, which provides for the cession of the island of Sakhalin, so modified as to include an arrangement for the repurchase by Russia of the northern half of the island for 100000 900 yen. In addition, it offered to with draw entirely articles II and 12 (sur- render of the informed warships and limitation upon Russia's sea power in the far east. It was President Roose- velt's compromise, and M. Witte knew its contents as well as Baron Komura. The question of whether he had been "blufing" was put to the test.
 Without a moments hesitation NJ. Witte explained that the modification proposed was merely a sham. change of phraseology, diplomatic attempt to "sweeten the pill'' and ask Russia to pay war tribute under another name. He could not accept it. He told Baron Komura Russia wanted peace. She had given the proofs in accepting every article involving the issues upon which the war was fought, but she could fight, and money for tribute she would not pay. not kopeck. He asked Baron Komura to withdraw all de mands for tribute. And so the pleni- potentiaries separated to meet again on Saturday ostensibly to permit N. witte to place in writing. as the rules of the conference require, his reply to the Japanese compromise proposition. In reality the adjournment over the two days was to give each side an op- portunity. to consult its government for the last time.
 The decisiou rests. as it has from the first. with Russia. Unless the emperor agrees to yield between now and Sat urday the end is likely to come on that day And the indications from Peter hof. instead of raising the chances of a change of heart on the part of the em- parnr eoarn fo indicate arau firm or determination to yield neither territory nor indemnity, sugar coated though the latter may be