The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-21

tain Their silence-MeetingT Tomorrow
to Examine Protocols on the Points
Of Agrcement-Drafts in French and
English May Arouse New Discussion.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. O.-1n his
conversation yesterday with Baron Rosen,
the Russian peace envoy whom he had
called to Oyster Bay to receive an Inn
portant communication, President Roose-
welt made the proposition, subject to the
approval Of Mr.. White and Baron Rosen,
that he use his good Offices to ascertain
from the Japanese Government whether
1t would be willing to make concessions
to Russia in order to avert a continuance
OF the war.
The Presidents suggestion has been
communicated to the Russian Govern
ment, and it Is believed that his tender
will be courteously accepted. In the
meantime the status Of the peace negotia-
lions will be uncertain. But little hope Of
favorable outcome Is felt here.
The President made 1t plain to Baron
Rosen that he would not take any action
without the cognizance and consent OF Mr..
WHITE, to whom he sent message through
.1asoa- 2sssn- expressing -Ahe 'hspe that -ths
great Russian statesman would approve
the gu question which the President had put
forward. This message was delivered
orally by Baron Rosen to Mr.. Witte this
afternoon. and the proposal Of Mr. Roosevelt
was accepted, subject to the approval OF
the Emperor.
While Mr.. Witte, out OF courtesy to the
President of the United States, has felt
obliged to aoquiesce in Mr.. Roosevelt's
plan to the extent OF communicating 1t to
the Car for consideration, he is appar-
emily determined not to make any ad-
ditional concessions in behalf OF Russia
to bring the Japanese to modify the terms
upon which the peace ENJOYS have been
unable to agree. To accept the Presi-
dents suggestion outright would compel
Mr.. White, according to the Russian view.
to recede from the position to which the
two plenipotentiaries Of the Gar have
adhered. Personally Mr.. Witte Is not in
olined to go any further than he has gone
in his effort to secure a compromise, and
unless he gets instructions from st, Peters
lbsrz 10 the Contrary he will not move
one iota from the attitude he has assumed
toward his Japanese adversaries.
RUss1A's POSITION.
In the opinion Of members Of the Russian
commission there is practically no hope
that President Roosevelt's offer will tend
to bring about favorable conclusion to
the peace negotiations. This Is not based
merely on knowledge Of the personal inclina-
tions Of Mr.. White and Baron Rosen, but
arises from advices received by the Russian
ENJOYS to-day that at meeting Of the Gar
and the State Council at Petsrhof yesterday
It was determined that no further oonces-
sions should be made to the Japanese.
The information communicated to the
Cars ENJOYS by their Government is that
the Council Of State took the position that
all concessions that could possibly be made
without surrender Of dignity and power
had been granted, and q suggestion that
Russia go beyond that point could not be
tolerated.
With this insight Of the Russian position
the hope that peace will result from the
Portsmouth conference Is reduced to q
minimum The members Of the Cars
mission, from Mr.. Witte down. regard
failure as certainty. They are making no
secret Of their pessimistio attitude. Mr..
Martens, the principal adviser OF the Rus
sian plenipotentiades. declared emphatic-
ally to-day that the exchanges would prove
unsuccessful.
.The situation Ia unchanged he said.
we shall 60 home on Wednesday. in my
opinion
This is the prevailing view on the Russian
side. As for the Japanese, they are as
silent as ever, although they will not con-
oede that all hope Of a successful issue
should be abandoned. In this attitude on
the part OF the Toxic Governments ennis
saries some people find cause for the belief
that Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira are
prepared to propose some plan OF oom-
promise to prevent the conference from
ending without result. But Baron Komura
and Mr.. Takahira are telling nothing, and
there Is not the slightest prospect that they
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