Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-19
nized to be only a diplomatic fiction. If


yet possible. But the chances are rec
oynized TO be slim. So far as the Rus
sian plenipotentiaries are concerned
there never was q chance Of their yield
ing both indemnity and Sakhalin.
The cession Of Sakhalin without In
demnity WAS. according TO the best in
side information, the extreme limit to
. which II. Witte would ever consent to
= 20 and the Emperor has not yet given
ire word even to concede that. And
tonight, suddenly a new factor has
been introduced. which in the opinion
Of those most competent. lessons materi.
ally the, chances that he might do so
namely the issuance Of his manifesto
granting q popular representative body
to his subjects. The bearings Of this
''historic document" as NJ. Witte de-
scribed 1t a few days ago. upon the Is
sue are easily comprehensive. 1t Il
bound to ameliorate the internal Stu
alton In Russia. 1t Is the entering wedge
for the realization of the century-olo
dream of the Russian people.
1T will create enthusiasm at home,
said one Of the most prominent MEM
bars of the Russian mission. "becaus'
all thinking men realize that 1t mears
eventually a great change In the com,
position OF the Russian state. 1t Will
be followed by a true parliament. re-
sponsible ministry. premier ana rus
sia will become constitutional mon
archy."
It is pointed out that the MANIFESTO
Il timed like what the French call
coup de foudre and that It's signincanct
IL too plain to be questioned. ~ "a'
10 Of v.
when the Russian reply was presenter
but It was held over until the cohclu-
.ion of the oral consideration of the
Japanese terms. Meantime 'he TERMS
had been published everywhere
throughout Russia. The press even
the liberal press. had replied that Rus
STA could not pay money for the prlVli-
eye Of getting out of Manchuria.
The Emperor had publically pro-
claimed to his subjects, July %, In re-
ply to a telegram of the Orempure
clergy the Russian people can rely
upon me. I will never conclude a
peace humiliating or unworthy OF
Great Russia. The manifesto Is EN-
peror Nicholas answer to the Japanese
demand for the payment of a war tri-
butte. The grant of this broad reform
Ia regarded as virtually an appeal tc
the Russian people for support to re-
sist 1t.
AT Toxic, 1t is impossible to tell wha'
view will be taken. Peace can probably
be even now secured by the sacrifice
OF the indemnity. Vague intimations
tonight, come from the japanese sid'
that the demand for 1.-The cost OF tn
war" might be moderated. but NJ
Whites reply is that he will pay liber
ally for the maintenance of the Rus
elan prisoners in Japan, but mot
copeck for tribute" The gravity of tn
situation from the Japanese point o
view Is contained In the following au
lucrative statement given to The Asso
ciated Press:
Il cannot say positively because a
things are possible, but l fear that IN
meeting on Tuesday will be the fare
we'll session of the Washington confer
ence. Japan has done her utmost TO
peace. Russia now knows Japans un
reducible minimum"
M. Witte, himself. tonight, gave no
the slightest encouragement For pub
LEGATION. he said:
we meet, Tuesday. only TO sign thu
protocol" with the accent upon thu
word only.
Another bad sign was the change il
the personal attitude of the plenipoten-
tiaries towards each other. During thu
week, they have been growing more
md more friendly at the luncheon
which they take together at the navy
yard. This conversation was lively
and even gay at times. Today, they
sat together and ate IN silence. Al
seemed strangely constrained as ii
realizing that they could only agree t.
disagree and that the war must go on
Tonight. the situation can be sum
med up In a single sentence. Prompt
and heroic action by outside influences
alone cane save the conference.
In the event of the expected break ii
the peace negotiations, the Emperor o
Japan will renew to tn" President
through Mr.. Takahira, the japanese
minister at Washington, and through
Mr.. Griscom. the American minister
at Toxic. his deep appreciation of The
Presidents efforts for peace and his
disappointment that these efforts have
not been crowned with success, because
OF circumstances over which the Pres
ident In the very nature Of things coult
have no control.
NJ Plancon has been charged by NJ
Wittc with the task of preparing tn
hnal Russian protocol for presentation
at Tuesdays meeting.
The Associated Press is able to stat
that the reserved point in Article : t
which agreement was only reached 'h
principle relates to establishing tn
status south of Hardin from which TIL
coded branch of the Chinese Easter
Railroad Is to begin. Russia returned ;
negative to Article 10. Uhe surrende
of the informed warships) on the groun'
that such proceeding would b.
against all interna tional law and prec
edent. On Article II, (the limitation up
-. on kussia's naval power), NJ. White de
eiined to agree to allow such a provi
sion to so into a treaty. but offered t.
state on behalf of his government tina
Russia had no intention of maintain
ing In the Far East naval force which
would constitute threat against japan
or any other power