New-York tribune., 1905-08-25
NEW APPEAL TO VI. WITTE.
President Communicates scith Him
after Hearing from Dir. Meyer.

Portsmouth Y H Aug. 24.-The prospects OF
peace seem desperate. but they are not hopeless
DESPITE the prevailing pessimism. There is stu
t. chance and the forces working for peace are
continuing their labors. The President falleo
twice but he is fighting on. The result or Am
bassador Meyers audience at Peterhof yester-
cav was unsatisfactory but. at least, it was not
G rebuff II left the door open and within few
hours after the receipt at Oyster Bay Of Mr.
Mever's account of his audience. the President
had sent a new appeal through NJ. Witta who
received fl from Mr.. Peirce about o'clock this
morning.
The Emperor had already in effect declined
the COMPROMISE offered by Japan. He had re
fused Il because. under a disguise so thin that
even child would not be deceived. Japan
offered 10 withdraw the article asking remunera-
titon for the cost OF the war. substituting the
condition that Russia repurchase from the mill
fary possession Of Japan the northern part OF
saghaiien for l.2oocoo.0oo yen-s6oO.ooo 600
rverz message received from Peterhof. itcud-
.nr those that came early to-day. was fnfexiole
vron that point Had Japan not inserted the
sum. had that been left for future adjustment
TIE proposition would undoubtedly have proved
more palatable
The Associated Press is in position to state
that the divergence in the compromise as sus-
sested by the President and as ohereo Oy
Japan at the conference touched this very
point The President did not suggest any price
or the fixing OF a price and IL Is oene
though this cannot be affirmed, that his latest
60. is 70 SECURE the consent Of the Emperor
10 agree 10 accept the japanese proposition'
with the amount subject 10 future adjustment
by an arbitral board or otherwise
According 10 the Japanese. NJ Witte mas al
ready offered TO divide Sashahen-
Japan. Il is believed. would make the furlher
concession suggested IL Emperor Nicholas "ouiu
commit himself to this solution. This Statement
"a based upon the words of the japanese au'hol-
fv most competent to speak. When asAeu II -
were correct as reported. that the japanese hau
said their last word. and that all hope was over
he replied
NO we have not declared our proposition of
"Wednesday was our irreducible minimum. we
are not assuming threatening a't'uoe' Ina
IS not the way 10 make peace.
Fut the plenipotentiaries themselves no longer
oontrol on either side The negotiations have
passed from their hands 10 their principals at
St Petersburg and Toxic.
Most persistently the report continues TO De
circulated here that Emperor William has been
one of the main obstacles TO peace; that, while
ostensibly in sympathy with the Presidents Ell
forts he IS advising Emperor Nicholas not 10
weld The foundation for this belief is the fact.
which appears tulg CoiAii iieu' 'i0' W. '-
instructions were made more imperative ana
intrsnsigent upon the question of indemnity ana
cession Of territory after the Kaisers interview
with the Russian Emperor in the Baltic sea
Beyond this no evidence is offered
II is significant that NJ Witte made IL a point
tonight TO express his disbelief in the report
from St Petersburg which caused considerable
CONSERVATION here that Count Lamsdorh had
authorized Reuters agent TO declare that Rus
sia under no circumstances would pay con-
tribution either direct or indirect or make any
cession OF territory whatever. N. Witte SAID
that he could not imagine that Count Lamsdorf
could have authorized such statement without
informing him (Witte).