New-York tribune., 1905-08-18
DARK, BUT NOT HOPELESS.
Only Compromise Can Save Peace
Conference from Ship1Creck.
CRr The Associated Prss.,

CBy The Associated Prsss)
Portsmouth, y. H. Aug. 1.-THE crisis In
the Peace Conference has been reached. and
pessimism is again the note But the darkest
hour is just before the dawn. and there is still
hope Predictions of final rupture tomorrow
certainly win not be justified unless Baron
T<Omura figuratively picks up his hat and
nounces that it is useless to proceed further
NJ. Witte, at least, will not be precipitate. AT
to-morrow's session. after Article II ths linits-
tion of Russias sea power in the Far East
and Article l. Fishing rights on the Russian
HttoraD, are disposed of. he will favor an ad-
journment until Monday, hear the last word
from st. Petersburg.
The pessimism tonight is based on the fact
that no progress was made to-day The ex-
change OF views az the morning session on
Article remuneration for the cost OF the
war; showed al once that the plenipotentiaries
We're far apart as the poles. and it was
passed over Article 10 (the surrender OF the
interned Russian warships) was also passed
not, in the opinion of one Of the pIenipotenti-
aries tonight because it could not have been
arranged,
two main points in dispute hanging over the
conference both sides We're cautious and pre-
ferred to postpone it to the end. Article ID
Limitation of sea power is also adjustable after
modification, and Article 12 viii present
difficulties. So that tonight the situation Is
practically what it was when NJ Witte last
Saturday presented the Russian reply with it-
rejection Of Articles > and 3 Indemnity and
saghaIien.
No great hope was entertained in the Jap
anese camp. I'VE are not buffers said Mfr.
Sato. and from authoritative source dis
tinctIy bad impression regarding the outlook
was received. 1t was coupled. however. with an
expression of the hope that II It was found that
the conference was going to pieces President
Roosevelt might again step in
We have heard that the President having
brought us together, has washed his hand, Of
He might do something"
What" was asked.
THAT I cannot say
The Japanese view was explained thus;
we came asking only what wanted. Our
terms were moderate. The world things %.
1t looks bad. I say believe so. But the
conference may yet be saved from shipvreek.
NJ. witte has been gracious. He has done what
he can but he has future at home to con-
slider"
A very important conference was held In M
Whites rooms shortIy before midnight. There
were present Baron Rosen, the other Russian
plenipotentiary. and NJ. de Martens. General
YermalefF NJ Pokotilon. NJ. shipofr and Cap
tain Roussine the five Russian delegates 1t
is the first time that full meeting OF plenipo-
tentiaries and delegates has been held since
the conference began, The preliminary dis
cussion of the japanese conditions is already
virtually ended. 1t is not improbable that the
final report and recommendations OF the Rus
sian plenipotenuaries was passed on and
transmitted tonight to the Emperor ar Peter
hof
The only chance now is eompromise-TIussis
TO yield Saghalien and Japan indemnity. Neither
will yield both. and perhaps Japan. at the final
show of hands. viii yield neither. NJ. witte.
under the imperial indications contained in tbs
instructions given him before he left ST. Peters
burg can agree neither 10 pay war tribute nor
cede a foot of Russian soil St Petersburg
therefore in the last resort remains to be heard
from. Doubtless this Is the reason why he IA
vors a postponement tomorrow over sunday
Baron Komura probably win welcome an ad-
journment OF two days in order that he also
may lay the situation before his government
for It's final decision
The sudden revival of deep Dessimism to-
night was induced by the report given out when
the plenipotentiaries returned to the hotel that
no progress had been made to-day. But 70 those
On the inside that not surprising. Things
had gone smoothly enough, only the impsss-
had been reached-th-re had been the CLINT OF