The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-08-24
M. WITTE DECLINES TO
 ACCEPT A COMPROMISE
DECLARESM MODIFTCATIONMERE- LIZA SHAM, 4 CHANGE IN
 PHRASEOLOGK.

Again Says Russia Will Not Pay Co., peck of TrIbute-AsIzs Baron Komura
 to Withdraw All Demands for Money
 With Deadlock Tighter Than Ever
 the Envoys Part to Meet Again Satur- day-OhtIOok Again Black
 Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 23.-The Japanese pIenipotentiaries at the con- clusion of the afternoon session of the peace conference threw their cards up- on the table. It was the dramatic mo- mcnt-the moment to which all the previous proceedings of the conference had led. The protocols involving agree ment upon eight of the twelve condi- tions originally presented by Japan had been signed. One side or the other must make a move or the plenipoten- tiaries had reached their parting of the ways. The adversaries had faced each other across the table. Of course it was well understood what would happen, but that, in way, only made 1t more dramatic. Ffguratively, President Roosevelt suddenly entered the confer ence room. M. WItite sat silent and the move in the great diplomatic game passed to Japan. Baron Komura in a few words explained that Japa in her great desire for peace was ready to make certain notifications of the original articles in the hope that Russia could find 1t possible to accept them. He then presented in writing to M. Witte the compromise proposition xv1atoI, lo5 ed, It was concrete and specific, and it followed the lines outlined in these dispatches. It offered to withdraw ar ticle g, providing for the payment by Russia of Japan's bill for the cost of the war, on condition that Russia would accept article 5,which provides for the cession of the island of Sakhalin, so modified as to include an arrangement for the re-purchase by Russia of the northern half of the island for 1,200, ,000,- 000 Tn addition 1t offered to withdraw entirely articles Ii and f2 Surrender of the interned warships and limitation upon Russia's sea power in the Far East). It was President Roosevelt s compromise and M. Witte knew it's con- tents as well as Baron Komura. ~
 The question of whether he had been .''bIuffing'' was put to the test With out a moments hesitation M. Witte ex- plained that the modification proposed was merely 3 sham, Q change of phra- seology, diplomatic attempt to ''dorer la pilule," and ask Russia to pay war tribute under another name. He could not accept 1t. He told Baron Komura Russia wanted peace. She had given the proofs in accepting every article involving the issues upon which the war was fought, but she could fight and money for tribute she would not pay--rlot a copeck. He asked Baron Komura to withdraw all demands for tribute. <
 And so the plenipotentiaries separat- ed, to meet again on Saturday, osten- sibly to permit M. Witte to place in writing, as the rules of the conference require, his reply to the Japanese com promise proposition. In reality the ad- journment over the two days was to give each side an opportunity to consult it's government for the last time.
 The outlook is black. Many believe is was never so black as tonight. The Japanese are not talking. Indeed, to- night they appear to be more taciturn and more resolute than ever. The only possible line of further Japanese con- cession is considered to lie in the direc- tion of diminution of the amount of the purchase money demanded for the northern half of Sakhalin. The decis- ion rests, therefore, as it has from the first, with Russia. Unless the emperor agrees to yield between now and Satur- day, the end is likely to come on that day. And the indications from Peter hof instead of raising the chances of a change of heart on the part of the en- peror, seem to indicate even a f1rmer determination to yield neither territory nor indemnity, sugar-eoated though the latter may be.