Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-15
RUSSIAN REPLY
REJECTS Terms

PAYMENT OF INDEMNITY AND
CEDING OF sAKHALIN NOT
ACCEPTABLE.
SECOND MEETING OF
ENJOYS is HELD
Reply Of Komura Believed to Make It
Unlikely That Peace Agreement
Will Be Reached oyama Ready
for Battle.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug, 1.-THE
conference Of the Japanese plenipo-
tentiaries and their assistants was adj
journed for luncheon at 1880 o'clock.
Jap Secretary Sends Dispatches.
Mr.. Hanihara, one of the Japanese
secretaries, arrived at the hotel short
ly after three o'clock in an automobile
with suit case containing official pa
pers. He at once began coding dis
patches He would give no inkling Of
the events in the conference room. He
appeared far from optimistic.
i Unfavorable Outlook for Peace.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 1.-THE
meeting of the peace conference Satuf-
day morning was brief 1t lasted lit
tie more than an hour. The Russian
reply was delivered by Mr.. Witte and
the meeting was adjourned to give
Baron Komura and his colleagues OPP
portunity to examine the document.
Mr. White indicated courteously that
he would expect the same expedition
In the Japanese response as had been
observed in the preparation of the
Russian reply and this was readily as
scented to.
Baron Komura announced that they
would be prepared to meet the Russian
plenipotentiaries again 1T three o'clock
Saturday afternoon, or it not then, at
the latest Sunday at the same hour.
The Russians and Japanese plenipo-
tentiaries remained at the navy yard.
The Japanese assistants went to the
navy yard in Launches, taking with
them number of suit cases in which
were documents and records
Japs Are Prompt.
The official statement regarding Sat
turday mornings session was given out
Fby Mr.. Sato at 11:15 accompanied
with the explanation that it was an Of
fetal statement to which both sides
had agreed. 1t is as follows:
In the sitting of Saturday, Angus
ho nj inn
tentiaries of Russia, have handed theil
reply in writing to the note presented
10 them on Thursday by the plenipo
tentiaries of Japan. 1t has been decid
ed that the next meeting will taxi
place after the Japanese plenipoten
tiaries have examined and studied thu
) reply received, which will be at three
O'Clock Saturday afternoon or Sunda.
at the same hour"
Substance Of Russian Reply.
s. The Russian reply to the Japanese
terms delivered by Mr.. White to Baror
Komura was outlined in the press dis
patches Friday night. Upon the two
points-indemnity and cession o.
Sakhalin-it declines to admit discus
sion. Others it accepts and still other
It accepts conditionally. It is long
taking up the conditions seriatim an,
setting forth the reasons and argu
ments for the decision reached in eacl
case. The argument against the pay
ment Of an indemnity or the cessio1
Of territory is based upon the genera
theory that Russia is not responsible
kAr the war and that as Russia is still
prepared to continue the struggle an,
has sought this meeting not as van
Guished country begging for terms
but because she sincerely desired peac
~ honorable peace is possible, there
fore she could neither agree to foe
Japan's bill for war expenses nor ced
territory.
Russia's Argument.
The argument can be fairly stated a
follows:
Russia is not vanquished. She ha
suffered reverses, but she is nc
obliged to accept peace at any cos
She desires peace now as she Away
has even before japan opened hostil
& ties. That Russia did not court Q
want war was evident by the fact ths
she was not prepared for it either in
military, naval or administrative
sense. Russia could possibly be PROF
erly accused of only one thins-of hay
ing given the occasion which Japa
was seeking and for which Japan ha
been preparing for ten years to max
war upon her. The responsibility 70
the war therefore falls upon Japan an
not upon Russia.
Oyama Ready to Give Battle.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. l4.-So pes
simistic is the feeling among those /
the confidence OF both sides that tn
prediction was made TO the press col
respondent that II a meeting shout
be held Saturday afternoon 1t migl
be the last, and that the history {
the Washington conference" would
abruptly concluded Saturday.
II the negotiations are broken O
Oyama will Immediately give battle t
Linevitch. The press learns from a
pnimpeachable SOURCE that Oyama
plans are perfected, his armies al
ready and only await the signal ths
a rupture has occurred to launch hi
attack.
St. Petersburg Not Hopeful.
st. Petersburg. Aug. 14.-Dispatcht
from Portsmouth make it clear tn;
unless there is very substanti
abatement OF the demands of the Jal
anese plenipotentiaries. which is vi
likely, the peace conference will con
TO sudden conclusion The two nj
lions are SO wide apart that all hoI
OF agreement has been practical
= handnnad hara Il !. ia nrnha hla III