Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-13
PlENlporENTlAalES HOLD TWO SESSIONS
Russian Reply Refusing to Meet Two Main
Demands Submitted.
BAcKOowN BY JAPANESE RUHoREO
MikadO's Bavoys Consent to Discuss Minor
Propositions First.
PROPOSITION TAKEN UP SERlATlM
Four Hours spent in Afternoon In
Discussing rRnsfer of Leases
Meeting VIII He Held This
Afternoon.

PORTSMOUTH, N H., Aug. l2.-TherS
Is rift In the clouds. The prospects Of
a successful issue of the Washington con-
ference" have frightened somewhat as a
result of todays Developments The dis
cussiun of the terms submitted by Japan
has actually begun, but this has been ac-
complished by postponing the consideration
of the two main issues, indemnity and the
cession of Sakhalin.
So far as asCertainable the Japanese
were responsible for the tactics by which
this hopeful stage entered upon As
the mantle of secrecy is thrown around
the proceedings by mutual pledges not to
divulge what happened within the council
chamber, there are missing links in the
chain of evidence and it is impossible to
Judge whether this signifies backdown
on either side on the main points. on the
face of things both sides are still as un-
compromising as ever on the two issues,
the struggle over them being merely
postponed Some sort of private under
standing arrived at between Baron Ko-
mura and M. Witte during the recess at
the navy yard today is hinted at but
there is not the slightest confirmation OBJ
tainable No evidence of a change of the
uncompromisng attitude on the part of
NJ witte or Baron Rosen regarding the
main points Is observable. Nevertheless
the Japanese who are attached to the
Nippon mission plainly manifest elation
and some of them privately assert that
NJ Witte would never had consented To
the discussion of the terms had he not
been prepared to yield on the question
of Sakhalin. All this appears yet to be
largely surmse and deduction, but cer-
tainly the curtain of mystery which has
| ,I,yh3 ell
! important maneuvering from the public.
Russian Reply Presented.
| The Russian reply, with its non possumus
! as to indemnity and Sakhalin, had been
| presented in the morning. Yet, in spite OF
! this fact at o'clock the pienipotentiares
met and after agreeing to discuss the con-
dtions seriatim, entered upon the consid-
Grafton of the first of the Japanese terms.
| The proposition to discuss conditions In
this way is believed to have emanated
! from the japanese side. The first condition
| was Of secondary Importance, one of those
| which Russia had passed upon as condi.
| tionally acceptable as a basis OF discussion
yet little progress was made. Four hours
were spent in debating it. but no conclusion
was reached As there are twelve condi-
! tions and this one Is of minor Importance
| the outlook Is still gloomy. The plenipoten-
tiaries al o'clock adjourned until tonor-
row at 9 o'clock. The Japanese wanted to
hold session in the morning, but NJ. Witte
would not agree to this, as 1t was Sunday.
Witte Talks of situation.
| Both of todays sessions are described as
| "friendly." but no details are divulged NJ.
| Witte, however. makes no concealment of
the fact that the rigid secrecy which the
Japanese insisted upon imposing upon the
proceedings is dlstasteful to him. With
much earnestness he spoke tonight 20 the
Associated Press correspondent on the sub
ject At the time he was laboring under
much excitement. because of the published
statement called to his attention that he
had pleaded for an armistice. For the dig
nifty of Russia and the pride of his coun-
try he asked that an absolute denial should
be given to the report.
Recurring to the question of the secrecy
of the proceedings he said he did not un-
derstand the Japanese desire to conceal
what was taking place nor could he ap-
preciate the logic of the arguments adduoed
in support Of their position.
I'VE desire" said he, that everything
pertaining to the conference should be
done in the daylight. Russia is ready to
be Judged by the whole world. We have
nothing to conceal and nothing to fear.
Before the conference began all sorts Of
reports and misstatements emanated from
the other side Now that the world needs
enlightenment, now that the moment has
come to appeal to public opinion. we are
not permitted to place before the world
the evidence in our possession from which
a Just verdict could be obtained as 10 the
issue between the belltgerents. The Russian
plenipotentiaries are willing to publish the
text of the Japanese conditions the full
reply Of Russia presented this morning.
, the diplomatic notes that have been eK-
changed and the minutes OF the sittlngs.
The issue now being tried at Portsmouth
is not only a question of peace or war be-
tween Russia or Japan, but one which
might produce a general conhagration In
volving the shedding Of blood in many
countries.
RumOr of japanese BackdOwn.
Many Of the observers at the Wentworth
tonight recalled the fact that all the state
ments emanating from japanese sources
before the conference declared that Japan
y before consenung 10 take up the detailed
r discussion Of the conditions would insist
l., upon a general agreement upon the basis
T. 1t was asserted with great positiveness
d that Japan would never consent 10 discuss
the terms seratim until such agree
/ ment had been reached. From this many
= argue that Japan is prepared to yield
1. Others believe, on the contrary, that a
I, private assurance has been given Baron
j. Komura outside the conference chamber
that Russia would discuss all the basei
proposed.
r NJ. Witte has arranged TO attend religious
services tomorrow morning This evening
y he remarked laughingy: I'm not Japa
nese." He added: II do not want ses
v sion OF the conference tomorrow. / am
n good Christian and desire to attend serv
Ice on the Sabbath. AS there Is no ortho
dox church here l shall 60 TO the Protest
n ant church"
II is believed that the condition discusseC
al today's meeting was the question o.
" the evacuation Of Manchuria and the trans
FER Of the Russian leases 10 Japan.
Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira dine,
" tonight at Assistant Secretary Peirces anC
~ did not return to the hotel until II O'Clock
n NJ. Witte, after dinner saw a number o.
people and at 20 o'clock told the men sta
> toned al the door that as he had severe