The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-08-31
RUSSIA WON'T
PAY INDEMNITY
Will Divide Sakhalin and Pay LIB
orally For Prisoners, That's ALL
CONFERENCE AGAIN POSTPONED

Portsmouth. n. H., Aug. 2S.-Ine
life OF the peace conference seems
to hang by q thread, but the thread
will not be broken today. After q
two-hours' conference between MI.
Takahira and Mr.. Witte, in the latter's
room in the hotel annex, the announce
ment OF a postpOnement was mace.
Mr. Witte explained that Mr.. Taxa
hira had told him that no new instruc-
lions had reached him from Toxic,
and fearing none might be received
before the meeting scheduled for this
afternoon. he had suggested the pro-
priety OF postponing the meeting until
tomorrow. To this Mr.. Witte said ne
had readily assented. Mr.. Takahira
made the following statement:
"Inasmuch- as this conference was
initiated by the friendly ofhces OK
your president, after consultation. we
felt that we should be cautious about
terminating its 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 the negotiations Is at hand.
It Is very acute, but II it can be tided
over for 4 few days without q rupture
a basis of peace acceptable TO botn
sides may come very suddenly. But
to save the situation now Japan must
speak. II tomorrow she has nothing
70 offer all Is over. Mr.. Witte, even
II he would, is powerless to take ne"
step. His hands are tied. He now
occupies the role of an imperial mes
senger who transmits his masters
orders to Baron Komura, and Baron
Komura turns them over to Toxic Tor
the response. The conference room has
ceased to be q place for negotiations.
1t is simply the place where the en-
perors of the warning countries ex-
change their communications by the
means of their ENJOYS. And upon the
point of indemnity or reimbursement
under any disguise Emperor Nicholas
has given the Japanese emperor his
last word. Mr. White accepts 1t as
final, and in writing informed the Jap
anese plenipotentiaries that Russia
would have nothing further to say
upon this subject. Russia would cede
half of Sakhalin and pay the cost OF
the maintenance of the Russian pris-
oners, but that was all. Emperor
Nicholas had given the same response
to the president through Ambassador
Meyer
The Russians believe Japan has
been automatically manoeuvered into
a corner from which, If she now per-
sists in her attempt to exact tribute,
with the alternative of a continuation
OF the war she cannot extricate her
self before the public opinion Of the
world Japan here snd in Europe,
they say. appealed for sympathy ON
the ground that Russia had compelled
her to take up arms to protect her
life The fortune of war had gone in
her favor, and Russia. recognizing that
she had been beaten, and preferring
peace to the continuation of the war,
had agreed to cede upon every point
involved in the quarrel She was will
ing to allow Japan full swing in
Korea. she was willing to get out of
Manchuria. bag and baggage, and COM
nit herself to the recognition of
China's integrity and the policy of 1.-The
open door" But Japan insisted upon
tribute, and because Russia refused,
prolongs the carnage. In that act
they contend Japan would change the
purpose and character of the war,
which would cease to be no longer one
o. principle. but degenerate into a war
for the exactiOn of money
There is no doubt that the Japanese
are worried over this aspect of the
situation. and they do not propose to
be placed in this position II it can
be helped.
Whether the president has renewed
his efforts cannot be ascertained here
His former suggestion for a compro-
mise failed. He proposed the linden
nity-Sakhalin" combination, but not In
the form in which it was presented by
| Baron Komura at Wednesdays meet
Ing. Instead of setting the prizes
u.20O. 100000 yen, the estimated cost
OF the war;, he suggested that II an
| agreement could not be reached, the
{ fixing Of the price should be left to q
board or commission. But Japan in
sisted upon inserting tho sum and
| this made 1t impossible, in view of the
Russian declaration to accept It
| Emperor Nicholas refused to &c
| farther in addition to the concessions
already made than to agree to the
cesslon Of half OF Sakhalin
| According to a high Russian au
thority who has been in a position to
see President Roosevelt's communities
| ton proposing a compromise, it quite
| clearly showed that the president con
! sidered that Japan's victories gave hel
the right to ask for an indemnity. in
| fact II not in name and was also emit
tied to Sakhalin. and that her military
! occupation of Sakhalin gave her the
| right to the island. The presidents
| friends. however, claim that when the
full tex: Of his proposition is before
the world ell criticism must cease. I,
Is we'll. therefore. again to repeat the
statement telegraphed last night
which comes from one in full posses
sion OF the entire action taken b,
President Roosevelt:
IF the civilized world could know
at this time the precise nature Of the
propositions made to Russia and ia
pan by President Roosevelt II voul
seem that the force of public opinion
OF the great neutral opinion OF tn
world. would induce the plenipoter
tia,ies and their governments to paus
and consider seriously the results be
fore breaking up finally the presen
conference without an agreement. In
deed. they might scarcely dare, in tn