The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-08-24
ROOSEVELT POlNTsJ JOur TIE WAY

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Hague Peace Conference, to Reject
-Japan's Acceptance Considered
Assured if Russia s is Obtained.
Portsmouth, n. H., Special.-It can
not be autroritatively stated that the
feature OF the proposition of Presi-
dent Roosevelt communicated through
Baron Rosen to Mr.. Witte and trans
mitted by the latter to Emperor Nicho-
| las was based upon the principle OF
arbitration Whether the proposal con-
templates arbitration Of all the articles
npon which the plenipotentiaries have
failed to agree, or upon the question Of
indemnity cannot be stated with posi-
tiveness, but it is more than probable
that it relates only to indemnity or to
indemnity and the cession OF the is
land of Sakhalin. Neither is it posi-
BILE to sly whether the President has
has yet made a similar proposition to
Japan. The customary diplomatic pro-
ceedings in such case would be to
submit the proposal simultaneously to
both countries, but there might be an
advantage in securing the adherence
of one before submitting it to the
other.
To Emperor Nicholas. the author Of
The Hague peace conference, the sug-
gestion of arbitration which will neces-
sarily Immediately command the SYM
pathy OF the public opinion Of the
world will be particularly hard to re-
ject. II he agrees. Japan. if she has
not already done so. would be all the
more bound to submit her claim to the
decision of an impartial arbitrator. Ac
ceptance by both sides would involve
q great extension Of the principle OF
arbitration, as nations have heretofore
declined to arbitrate questions involv-
ing their honor and dignity" Both
Mr. Takahira and Mr.. Witte in the
earlier stages of the conference abso-
lutely rejected the idea Of arbitration.
and both reiterated their disbelief in
such a solution. 1t was noticed, how
ever, that Mr.. Whites opinion was not
expressed as strongly as it was last
week.
An Offer to Japan.
Portsmouth, N. H., Special. - The
chances of peace have undoubtedly
been improved by President Roose-
velt's action in stepping into the
breach in a last heroic endeavor to
induce the warning countries to COM
promise their "irreconcilable differ
ences," but the result is still in suS-
pense.
The ultimate decision Of the issue
has de facto II not de jure, passed
from the plenipotentiaries to Their
principals, from Portsmouth to st.
Petersburg, and perhaps in a lesser
extent, to Toxic. Although there are
collateral evidences that pressure both
by President Roosevelt and neutral
powers, including Japan's ally, Great
Britain, whose minister, Claude NC
Donald, according to advices received
here, held a long conference Sunday
afternoon with Mr.. Katsura, the Japan
ese Premier, is still being exerted at
Toxic to induce Japan to moderate
her demands, there is reason to be-
lieve that President Roosevelt was
able at his interview with Baron de
Rosen to practically communicate to
the latter's senior, Mr.. Witte, Japan's
irreducible minimum-what she would
yield, but the point beyond which she
would not go.
Whether an actual basis Of compro-
mise was proposed by the President,
cannot be stated definitely. The only
thing that can be affirmed positively
is that il Russia refuses to act upon
the suggestion or proposition of Pres
ident Roosevelt the peace conference
will end in failure.
No clue of the nature OF this rec
ommendation has transpired. But 1t
can be stated that Mr.. Witte, no mat
ter how he may personally view the
proposition, is distinctively pessimis-
tic as to the character OF the response
which will come from st. Petersburg.
To a confidential friend he offered lit
tie hope of a change in the situation.
The Japanese, very firmly believed,
cling to the substance if not the form
of this demand for remuneration for
'the cost of the war"
Perhaps they are willing to decrease
the sum asked, but substantial COM
pensation, under whatever guise IT is
obtained, they decline to relinqulsn.
And they are also firm upon the ces'
c;on IF Sakhalin