The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-08-12
Russian AnsWs VIII Be Pre-
 sen ed This Morning
LAPS CAN KEEP SECRETS
komura Will Insist on Reimbursement and Cession of Sakhalin-Japan Has No Desire to Humili-
 ate Russia.

ate Russia.
 Portsmouth, N H.. August 11,-Russia's s reply to the Japanese terms of peace will be delivered by M. witte to Baron Ko- mura at 9:s0 o'clock tomorrow morning. The reply is written, there being two texts one In French. the other in English. Upon the two crucial points, indemnity and the cessIon of the island of Sakhalin, the re- ply Is an absolute non-possimus. Other points are accepted as a basis of discus sion, while still others are accepted con ditionally.
 The reply Is rather long. because in ennumerating conditions upon which dis cussions are admitted and upon which consideration Is declined, reasons and ar guments are given. The Japanese plenipo- tentiaries are expected to ask for an im- mediate adjournment for time in which to examine and prepare their reply. M. Witte will probably intimate that the Russian plenipotentiaries expect the Jap anese to display as much expedition as they the Russians) have shown in the preparation of their response. Monday therefore, is expected to be the day on which the real discussion will begin. Neither side wants to indulge In diplomat ic sparring. The time for fencing is over and less than week must decide whether a basis of peace Is possible.
 laps Can Keep Secrets.
 The tactics of the Japanese are in- scrutable. They have shown throughout the war their ability to guard their se- crets. military. naval and diplomatic. and now that the remotest clue comes from behind their closed doors as to whether they are prepared to make substantial concessions. Silence and secrecy their watehwords But if the conditions are sub mitted constitute their last words, hope l of peace may be regarded as having dis appeared if the feeling reflected In Rus sian circles Is true criterion. And that no substantial concessions on the main issues will be made, is the belief both in Russian and Japanese circles.
 Deepest Pessimism Reians. Tonight in the inner camps of both plen- ipotentiaries the deepest pessimism reigns. MT. Witte. 1t is positively known, believes the prospects of an agreement are so remote as to be practically nil. He has no desire to prolong the agony and instead of fencing when the plenipo- tentiaries come together after the Japa- nese have had the opportunity to examine the reply, there Is strong reason to be- lieve he will not only welcome but will in- sist upon an immediate discussion of all the proper bases So Pessimstic Is he that he has already been talking to his colleagues of his plans when the rupture RpfOra Qai1fnp Tar 10 templates n brief visit to Chicago. That the Japanese terms insofar as they touch the main points will not be withdrawn or materially modified, Is the opinion of the most competent Japanese authority on the ground who will talk for publica- tion, namely MT. Julio Kumpei Matsu- mato, member of the Japanese parlia- ment. who Is here as financial emissary of Japan. and who is in close communi- cation with Baron Komura and MT. Ta- kahira. The reasons he assigns are ex- tremely interesting.
 Japs Will Insist.
 The conditions in their broad out lnes." said he to the Associated Press tonight, have been substantially known to us in Japan and the Russians will be very much mistaken If they ina zine the Japanese will not insist upon the two chief points-the indemnity and the ces- sion of Sakhalin To surrender either Is impossible. If Baron Komura should yield on these points, public feeling In Japan would be so strong that he would be mur- dered upon his return to Japan. We must be reimbursed for the cost of the war, and we have national claims on Sakhalin which we have never forgotten. About 200 years ago the island was explored by a Japanese-Juseo Konda-who occupied 1t in the name of Japan, and called it Karafuto, the name bestowed upon 1t by the aboriginal Tho race. who at that time also inhabited the island of Hok- kaido. Finally 1t was discovered by a Russian captain, who occupied 1t in the name of Russia. Japan protested and q long, desultory negotiation followed. But Japan then was weak She had neither army nor navy, nor internal organization. Indeed, the country was almost on the verge of revolution. Japan could not re- sist and the upshot was that Russia one day ended the controversy by announce ing that she would take Sakhaln and give Japan the Chishma 0<urites Isands), which Japan already owned.
 No Desire to Humlliate Russia.
 Japan has no desire to humiliate Rus sia more than is necessary, and even now is seeking to avoid woundlng Russia's susceptibilties. but public opinion in Ja- pan Is absolutely. so firm upon the main issues that no Japanese statesman could possibly dare to withdraw the terms which have been proposed as the basis of peace.
 "The Japanese government has only asked what according to Japanese ideas are considered most moderate terms. A strong party of Japanese favored claim ing not only Sakhalin, the Lao Tung peninsula, protectorate over Korea and the evacuation of Manchura. but also the cession to Japan of the territory around the mouth of the Amur."
 The question of the credentials has been amicably adjusted upon assurance of the Japanese that the powers granted Komura were in the regular form always employed by Japan M. Witte will not pursue the matter further. It Is believed that his object in presenting his note on the subject was that 1t might go into the record of the conference to show that the widely published intimations from Japanese sources before the con ference that the powers granted him would not be full and ample. were not only without foundation. but that his powers were in fact greater than those bestowed upon Baron Komura.
 Associated Press Scores Scoop.
 One of the biggest features of the day at the Wentworth hotel was the publi- cation of the Japanese terms by the As sociated Press. Efforts were made to