The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-13
Discuss Japah's Twelve Con-
dItIons for Ending War
Clause by.CIau!l.
TO MoLO SUNDAY SESSION.
Russians Credited With the First
Victory At the Conference.

Their Answer to japanese Demands DID
Not Bring tho Predicted ultimatum
Hope Revived by tho Decision to DIS.
cuss Terms IN Detsil-witte Believes
Conference VIII Continue at Least
Month-Denies Emphatioally That Rus
sian Envoys Asked fer an Armistioe
japan Responsible for Keeping the
--Corea tho First subject Discussed.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H.; Aug. 12.-There has
been no break IN the peace negotiations.
The crisis has passed for the present.
ENJOYS have reached the stage Of dis
cussion and the outlook ia very hopeful.
The gloomy forebodings Of last night have
given way to feeling Of pronounced
optimism.
at the end Of q four hours session, lasting
from until o'clock this evening; the
ENJOYS announced through Mr.. Koros-
tovitE, one OF the Russian secretaries;
LEoI IU6I0 WOul0 Do dIOtuCI oCcci0h VA
Sunday, which would begin at o'clock.
The four hours Of conference had been
spent, 1t was explained, in the oonsidera-
ton OF the first article Of the Japanese
statement Of conditions; and the discussion
had not been completed when the adjourn
ment came.
The ENJOYS decided to take up the peace
terms article by article, and this is In itself
the most hopeful sign that has appeared
since the negotiations were initiated. It
means that both sides are willing to show q
spirit of compr omise. More than that, It
means that the japanese have not come
bore to dictate terms and to demand their
rights a. oonquerors. They have not de-
livered an ultimatum. They are showing a
disposition to treat with Russia on equal
terms.
Japanese ENJOYS, after receiving the Rus
sian answer to Japan's conditions, would
make declaration that the terms must
be accepted In whole or not at all, but the
O6Hducoo plouApOVcuIAAiAeo uASA AoShh6 "a
sort. They did not even threaten. To use
what some people would call @Hibernian-
ISM their answer was not an answer at all
Instead OF submitting, as formal response
demands in toto. they merely made the
mild request that the conditions proposed
by them for ending the war be taken up
one by one and receive careful oonsidera-
ion.
The crisis that had been feared vanished
In air. Naturally the Russians are elated,
for 1t Ia they and not Japan who have gained
the first honors in this greatest diplomatic
contest OF modern times, perhaps OF all time.
wIrTE EXPLAINS THE SITUATION
After returning to the Hotel Wentworth
from the conference hall this evening Mr..
Witte said:
.The Japanese did not give us an answer
but declared they would discuss the terms
point by point. There are twelve points,
and in my estimation each will take two
days In discussion. As the first was not
half finished on the first day, 1t will take
twenty-four days to consider all the points,
which will make the conference last twenty
four days longer"
aThe purpose for which we have come
here was either peace or war, and we will
try everything to avoid shedding the blood
Of 100000 people.
For II this war continues, very likely
other nations may become involved
RUSSIA HASN'T ASKED FOR ARMIsTIcR.
With emphatic earnestness Mr.. Witte
made this statement:
Il ask of you gentlemen to deny in the
most formal, categorical and decided way
that from me or any other Russian side
has there ever been expressed wish for an
armistioe. and say so because an American
publication has stated that / almost
threw myself at the feet Of Baron Komura
in asking for It,"
1t is clear then from this brief explana-
ton Of the great Russian statesman that
the Portsmouth, peace conference has not
been abortive and will continue at least
for the greater part Of month. From
the very beginning Of the exchanges those
concerned have predicted confidently that
II the ENJOYS ever reached the stage where
they were willing to discuss the Japanese
conditions peace would certainly be the
outcome That stage has been reached
and the outlook is most promising.
Mr.. Whites statement must be inter-
preted to mean that even IL the conferees
fail to agree upon any radical point, such
as that affecting indemnity or the cession
of territory, they will not regard their
labors at an end but viz proceed to the
next point and give consideration to that
and 50 on down through Tho list until every
ARTICLE has bean scrutinissd. The longer