Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-09-02
LOOKS LIKE PEACE
WAS ASSURED

Portsmouth, N. H.. Aug. 29.-Tues-
day morning Baron Komura, acting
upon instructions received from Toxic,
as a result of Mondays meeting of the
cabinet and elder statesmen, under the
direct presidency of the emperor of Ja-
pan, submitted to M. Witte new basis
of compromise, and that compromise,
it is firmly believed. will insure peace.
The announcement that Japan had
already informed Emperor Nicholas,
through Ambassador Meyer, that Japan
was ready to waive the question Of in
demnity and submit the price to be
paid for the northern half of Sahalin
to the judgment of a mixed commits
sion, prepared the way for Japan's
backdown upon the main issue.
The announcement had been the sem
sation of the day. 1t had met with de-
mails high and low, and was decided
to be impossible or incredible. The
japanese declined to affirm and the
Russians said they had no confirma-
ton.
M. White intimated strongly that st.
Petersburg had not apprised him of any
such action by the president. There
was even a disposition TO ridicule the
idea of arbitration of the price of half
of the island. Neverless. ON all hands
it was admitted that if Japan took this
position the ground was cut out from
under Emperor Nicholas.
M. Witte, by consumate skill in con-
l.. Ill 4 e.
volving the real issues of the war, had
maDeuvered his adversaries into posi-
ton where, unless they abandoned the
claim for indemnity, they could be
held responsible for continueing the
war for money.
The Japanese, by now foregoing the
demnad for indemnity, practically turn
the tables upon Russia and shift the
burden back to her shoulders if she
does not consent to submit a minor is
sue to the impartial judgment of tri
bunal. Nj. Witte publcally dissents
vigorously but if Japan agrees to form
ally renounce all claims for direct OF
indirect compensation for the expenses
of the war the big stumbling block t
| BttiNC 10 Oub VI Ailt Way
All the private advices that reach
the Russian mission from st. Peters
burg indicate that the military party
is insistent that Linevitch be given I
chance and that negotiations be broker
off
NJ. White fears the pressure of thi
, sentiment, and, as a man of ambition
, he may not feel that he can afford Il
lay himself open to the charge that h
is temporizing with the situation. H
has power under his instructions to re
g iect out of hand any proposition invol
ing the payment of tribute. We nee
not consult his imperial master. II
is man of inspiration, and he is quit
capable, if the japanese proposition
a savors still of blood money, ITO refus
even to accept it for transmission t
st. Petersburg.
But such stroke is unexpected. NJ
Witte knows that public opinion, bot
u in America and in Europe, as we'll &
u in Russia, would condemn him if h
broke off the negotiations Just as I'll
way was opened for possible ACCORD
While apparently the real negotii
lions leading up to todays' nenouemeI
{ were conducted by the president
/ Oyster Bay, acting through Baron Ks
& neko on the one hand and AmbassadG
II Meyor on the other, it is now believe
r that much has been going ON beneat
II the surface here