The San Francisco call., 1905-08-18

7nlBlt1nE an uncOmpromlH1nG attitu0es
and TO this more than to anything oise
is attributed the confident feeling
among the Russians that negotiations
have practically come 10 d futile end
we might as well have talked TO
stone walls as 10 the Japanese" said
one prominent member of the Russian
mission tonight.
PORTSMOUTH. n. 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. Pre-
dictions OF e final rupture tomorrow
certainly viii not be justified unless
Baron komura fguratively picks up his
hat and announces that IL is useless 10
proceed further. Mr.. Witte at least
will not be precIpitate. At tomorrow
session, after article ? 1the limitation
Of Russia's naval power in the Far
East) and article II lfshing rights on
the Russian littoraD are disposed OF.
he Will favor an adjournment until
Monday 10 hear the last word from St
Petersburg The pessimism tonight is
based on the fact that no progress was
made to-day. The exchange OF views at
the morning session on article (remu-
neration for the cost Of the war; show
ed AT once that the plenipotentiaries
were as far apart as the poles, and It
was passed over. Article 10 (the sur
render OF the interned Russian war
ships) was also passed. not, in the opin-
ion OF one Of the plenipotentiaries,
when a correspondent saw him to-
night, because it could not have been
arranged, but because within the
shadow Of the two main points in dis
pute hanging over the conference both
nd
postpone il 70 the end. Article (limi-
tation Of sea power) is also adjustable
after modification, and article u viii
present no difficulties. So that tonight
the situation was practically where II
was when Mr., Witte last Saturday pre-
sented the Russian reply with its nom
possumus 20 articles and Cndem-
nifty and Saghalien).
NEITHER WILL YIELD.
The only. chance now is compromise
Russia 10 yield Saghalien and japan in
demnity. Neither will yield both. and
perhaps Japan at the final show Of
hands viii yield neither. Mr.. Witte.
under the imperial instructions given
him before he left ST. Petersburg. can
agree neither TO pay war tribute nor
cede a foot OF Russian soil St Peters
burg, therefore, in the last resort re-
mains 10 be heard from. Doubtless this
IS the reason why he favors postpone
ment tomorrow over Sunday.
Baron Komura probably will welcome
an adjournment Of two days in order
that he also may lay the Situation be-
fore his Government before its final
decision The sudden revival Of deep
pessimism tonight was induced by the
a spatches given out when the pleni-
Fotentfaries returned to the hotel. that
no progress had been made to-day.
But TO those IN the inside that was not
hor h.
Is enough only the impasse had been
reached-there had been the CLINT OF
cold steel IN ethe conference chamber.
And the few words Mr.. Witte said TO
the foreign newspaper correspondents
were as usual, not encouraging. He
looked tired and said nothing had been
accomplished
Tomorrow" he said. will finish
articles II and IL"
What them" he was asked
Then we will go 10 dinner" he re-
piled as he excused himself TO 60 10
dinner with Assistant Secretary Peirce.
No very great hope was vouchsafed in
the Japanese camp.
I'VE are not buffers" said Mr.. Sato,
and from an authoritative source the
correspondent received a distinctly bad
Impression regarding the outlook. 1t
was coupled, however, with an express
sion OF the hope that II It developed
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 hands of further responsibility.
But he is resourcefuI. He might do
something"
"What2"
That 7 cannot say"
The japanese view was explained.
I'VE came only asking what we
wanted Our terms were moderate
The world thinks so. It looks badly.
say so; I believe So But the confer
ence may yet be saved from shipwreck-
Mr.. Witte has been gracious He has
zone what he can. but he has a future
" home TO consider"
IMPORTANT MEETING.
A very important conference occurred
fn Mr.. Whites rooms shortly before
de Rosen, the other Russian plenipo-
tentiary. and Mr.. de Martens. General
YermoIen. DIR. Pokotoliff. Mr. Shipof
and Captain Boussin, the FIVE Russian
delegates. II is the first time a full
meeting OF plenipotentiaries had been
held since the conference began The
preliminary discussion of the Japanese
conditions is already virtually ended
II is not improbable that the final re-
port and recommendations of the Rus
sian plenipotentiaries was passed on
and transmitted tonight TO the En-
reror at Peterhoff
II can be stated that the individual
views OF the members of the Russian
mission differ as TO what points had been
yielded II a compromise is to be offered.
Some favor the surrender of Saghalien.
others an indemnity None are ready to
give uD both points.
China has at least constructfvely be-
come a party to the negotiations. Article
z. relating TO the transfer TO China Of
the branch Of the Chinese Eastern Rail-
Asad. running south from Harbin which
Eas agreed 10 by the peace plenipoten-
tiaries "in principle. yesterday. involved
perhaps in the final settlement prolonged
and complicated negotiations between