Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1905-08-31
MAY HAVE NEW PROPOSITION
TO PRESENT TO RUSSIAN
ENJOYS.
ALL NOW DEPENDS ON TOXIC
UNLESS THE JAPANESE RELEN 7
THE PEACE CONFERENCE
MUST FAIL.

W
ence Saturday, and there will be none
to-day. On Saturday Baron Komura
asked for ? ostponement OF the con-
ference until Monday. To this Mr.
Witte readily agreed. At 10 O'Clock
Sunday night, after a conference
lasting three-quarters of an hour be-
tween Mr. Takahira and Mr. White in
the latter's room in the hotel annex,
the announcement of a further post
ponement was made. Mr.. Witte ex-
planned to the Associated Press that
Mr. Takahira had told him that no
new instructions had reached him
from Toxic, and fearing none might
be received before the meeting
scheduled for this afternoon he had
Suggested the Propriety
of postponing the meetings until Tues
day.. To this Mr.. Witte said he had
readily assented. Mr.. Takahira made
the following statement to the Associ-
ated Press:
"Inasmuch as this conference was
initiated by the friendly offices of your
president, after consultation, we felt
that we should be cautious about ter
nina ting it's labors."
Pressed as to whether he regarded
the situation as hopeless, Mr.. Taxa
hira said: mo, not hopeless, but al
most hopeless"
This in itself from one who has
spoken always in the most guarded
fashion, is sufficient to show the des-
perateness of the situation.
The Real Crisis
in negotiations is at hand. 1t Is very
acute, but if it can be tided over for a
few days without rupture, basis Of
peace acceptable to both sides may
come very suddenly. But to save the
situation now, Japan must speak. IT
on Tuesday she has nothing to offer,
all is over. Mr.. Witte, even if he
would, is powerless to take a new
step. His hands are tied. Upon the
point of indemnity or reimbursement
of "frais de guerre" under any dis
g,hse, Emperor Nicholas has given the
Japanese emperor his last word.
Russia would cede half of Sakhalin
and pay the cost Of the maintenance
of the Russian prisoners, but that is
all, said Mr.. White. Emperor Nicholas
has given the same response to the
president through Ambassador Meyer.
Has Right to Indemnity.
Whether the president has renewed
his efforts cannot be ascertained here,
his former suggestion for a compro-
mise having failed. According to a
high Russian authority who has been
in a position to see the presidents
communication proposing compro-
mise, it quite clearly showed that the
president considered that Japan's vic
tories gave her the right to ask for
an indemnity, in fact if not in name,
and was also entitled to Sakhalin,
and that her military occupation of
Sakhalin gave her the right to the ISL
and. The presidents friends, how
ever, claim that when the full text of
his proposition is before the world, all
criticism must cease.
=
If the civilized world could know at
this time the precise nature of the
propositions made to Russia and Jap
an by President Roosevelt it would
seem that the force of public opinion,
of the great neutral opinion of the
world, would induce the plenipoten-
tiaries and their governments to
pause and consider seriously the re.
suits before breaking up finally the
present conference without an agree
ment. Indeed, they might scarcely
dare, in the face of the worlds opin-
ion, refuse to accept in principle, at
least, the suggestions offered by the
president.
Toxic Must Now Decide.
Although the public last night was
led to believe that the meeting was
definitely adjourned until Tuesday,
the Associated Press learned late last
night that according to the joint IN.
derstanding between Mr.. Witte and
Mr.. Takahira, it was agreed that
there would be no meeting until Jap
ans response to what may be regard
ed as the Russian ultimatum arrived
The meeting, therefore, may not be
held until Wednesday or Thursday
Toxic must now decide, and, judging
from the tone of the Japanese press
the government must face a grect
deal of opposition at home if it yields
Elder Statesmen Tackle It.
Toxic, Aug. "a specially sum
moned council of the cabinet aEal cil
er statesmen is now in session d.
cussing the latest phase of the peace
conference at Portsmouth.
President Makes New Appeal.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 23.-Th"i'
Is a persistent report that Presit-si
hoe 40 ~