The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-18
R1USSIA'S FATEFUL
DAY DRAWS NEAR
Continued from First Page
night preparing and d~eciphering mes
sages.
Powers of ENJOYS.

Witte insists he has full powers. He
probably has. Komura, altho he raised
the fog over Witte g credentials, has not
full powers. He is. obliged to submit
every proposition to both the mikado
and to .Viscount Hayashi, the Japan
informs the English foreign office
about them.
The Russians still insist, that they
will never recede from the position
they. have taken. They declare there
can be no indemnity and no ~cession Of
the proposal to limit the naval power
of Russia in the far, east is merely
something the Japanese desire to
trade on.
Loophole for Russians.
It has been, suggested that perhaps
the Russians can find a way out Of the
agreement Over the Eastern Chinese
railroad: It was announced that that
question was settled in principle, but
that some little things were left open
for further negotiation. This does not
seem probable. The Japanese have
made their demands, they consider
these demands reasonable, even, gener;,
Gus. They do not understand what
Russia means by saying she is not a
conquered nation. They point out the
fact that they have beaten Russia every
time there has been a clash n among
themselves they are confident that when
Oyama strikes he, too, will win.
What the Japs Want.
What the Japanese want is the appro-
baton Of this country and England.
They are aware that if they are mag
unanimous they will get a great moral
sympathy and support. STILL. these
stoiid, silent men who are here negoti-
ating for Japan do not see why they
must go to the extent Of sacrificing
what they think are their just dues:
Russia's argument is peculiarly Rus.
conceded three-fourths Of the Japanese
demands and that his concessions cover
the demands hat were made the rea.
sons for the war. eve have fought
you,O he says, in effect, "and I admit
have met with some reverses. Why dis
cuss that part of it? We are now will
ing to give you what you wanted be
fore the war and let bygones be by
gones.'
Whites Diplomacy.
Whites whole scheme of diplomacy
has been to put Japan in the position Of
delaying peace by refusing to recede OF
any question when Russia has recede(
on many. The Japanese merely smile
at this, they say the world will under
stand their position at the proper time
The whole question resolves itself int
this: Will Japan make some Of the dis
some of them entirely9 1t would b.
folly to discuss this. The Japanes
have allowed no shred Of information tt
escape concerning their intentions. The,
have adhered rigidly to the policy O.
silence. They insisted on secrecy here
It may be that this is because they az
prepared to .recede and do. not wan
their own country or the world to know
they have receded.
Why Japs Demand Secrecy,
Some weeks before the conference
met it was pointed out by a member o
the Japanese legation that the only wa,
to conduct such negotiations was t.
keep everything secret and print. tn
treaty when the treaty is made.
ut would not do,'' said. this Japan
csc diplomat, "to go into a conferenc
might be people in our own coun
, try who would dissent, who would sa.
: we should lave receled or should -hav
| stood firm. When a treaty is made an
signed hat is all there is to, it, it nus
, be accepted. Thus we shall not dis
: close our terms for we may want to q
, some bargaining
l If they want to bargain they may b
l able to get peace. The Russians hav
no hope they will recede. Still, it i
7 pointed out that Japan knew tho Rus
sian temper concerning her demands be
fore the demands were made. Russi
has said, vociferously, ever since tn
negotiations were bruited, that no il
, demnity would be paid and that no tel
. prophets ask why Japan came at al
knowing this. There is no answer a
hand. Nobody in Portsmouth has a
|, mixing Of what the Japanese intend t