Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-08-22
Only Hope for Success
Of the Negotiations.
Both Russia and Japan Apparent
" SteadfaSt in Demands.

Portsmouth. y. IT,, Aug. 21.-The re-
suit of President Roosevclts effort to
save the peace conf. renee from failure
remains ~ suspense. No direct reply
tn tho Presidents proposition COM
muncated by NJ. Witte, YESTERDAY. has
come from Emperor Nicholas but other
adyicos received from St. Petersburg
indicate that tie Emperor and his
councillors are unsha ken in their deter
minatiun neither to cedc territory nor
pay war tribute.
What TIE President is doing on the
japanese side remains as deep . mys-
terry rs ever. Little light is shed upon
the visits Of Baron Kaneko to oyster
BAY The Japanese do not even admit
that ne is their medium of Commune
cation with the Pres ident. They go no
farther than to reiteratc that Mr..
Roosevelt understands their position
ana that they have the fullest conf
dcuCr in him. They show not the
slightest indication that they have in
any wise changed their position or are
prepared to yield more than they We're
list Friday, when the plenipot"ntiarieS
adjourned. until tomorrow.
IL NJ. Witte Goes not receive fresh
Instructions before tomorrow, at 3
,'clock when the conference is rrsnm-
~. Therefore" tn" SituatiOn will be cX-
"Ctly what it was when tn" adjourn
mcnt MAS taken on Friday. The gulf
UllI he as wide. deep and uuspanable.
huc side or the other must then make
Il m"v" or Al that will be left will be
= brief hral protocol c"Itltying that
,.T ~
Ways inI to bid each other farewell.
':It such an abrupt termination is
u.rrIy anticipated. Baron komura. il
~ Wlttc has nothing to propose might
present Jlpans irrcducblc minimum
cmhodyiug the final concessions 81,
Was prepared to make If she is prcpar-
"a Ia make any or formally propose
collective oonsid, ration of all the ar
ticlcs still In dispute.
ALy move on either sllc would in
Nrlvc another adjourmm, ut. or such an
adjournment might l." frankly proposed
hy NJ. Witte. as he would not be guilty
of the discourtcsy Of Allowing the con-
ference to go to pieces before reCeivin =
:; specific reply t. President Roose-
volts proposition. Il is safe to assume.
therefore. that in III" absence of such Il
reply. the confcrcn, Will be prolonged
beyond tomorrow. Iui ivory delay in
the opinion Of in" Presidents friends
means hope.
Faint though il miy h.. Mr. Roosr-
volts object Was officially described,
today. to be- {" 'prolong the ncgotia-
tious." There n Warrant for the state.
mcnt that NJ WIttc personally sympa-
thizrs with the Presidents proposition.
II" matter how it may be regarded by
his imperial master and the latter's ad-
NisorS. II is Il mistake to suppose that
w onnsidt ring such a proposition. the
Emperor consuIts !; regularly ordained
,uun, il.
Throughout the conference. he has
h""n calling IN council such advisors rs
II" deemed wise. som" o. his relatives
tile Eraud dukes. members Of the court
ond certain chosen ministers. Th
Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholaicvitch
on" of the most powerful of his rcla =
tiv'S. is known to b" absolutely op-
posed I" yielding IN iotI beyond whar
NJ. Wittr has already conc trdcd. AS an
alternative. he fatvor1 Tie continuation
"f III" war. The sriri, of all the adj
Vices received has been such as almns;
I" preclude hope Of an eleventh hou.
change
Th" general belief here is that Prcsi-
"ent Roosevelt, Will he has the moral
support of one Of the neutral powers
ms not received the active aid he ex-
pectcd. England's det,ination to Offer
advice to Japan is disappointing
though the motives that actuate her il,
refusing to do anything that might be
tonStrl cd as an attempt to exercise
pressure upon her ally tending to rot
nor Of the fruits Of her victory are
fully appreciated. There are evidences