The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-27
President Suggests Basis Of
Peace Which Keeps the
Conference Open. I'D
WILL MEET AGAIN MONDAY.
Has Strongly Urged Russians to
Accept Japan's Offer Of
Sale OF SakhaIin.

ROOsevelt's Suggestions Said TO he Such
Is " You'd Receive support Of All Neutral
P0wers-Czar Said TO Have Onered
Half OF sakhalin Island and to Pay for
Keep Of Prisoners, but No Indemnity
-Witte and Komura Talk Over Terms
After Transaction OF Routine Business.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 2e.--The vital
, question Of whether there shall be peace
or war between Russia and Japan depends
for settlement mainly on the amount Of
| influence President Roosevelt can bring
to bear upon the two belligerents. He
does not hold the key to the situation, but
to him belongs the credit of having pre-
vented rupture of the Portsmouth con-
ference which would mean a resumption
OF the Far Eastern hostilties
Had it not been for the strenuous en-
| deavors Of the President the break would
have come to-day. AS it was, there has been
an adjournment Of the conference until
Monday to give MIR. Roosevelt the oppor-
tunity Of making further representations.
PRESIDENT SUGGESTS BASIS FOR PEACE.
There is the highest authority for the
statement that the President has within the
last three or four days made definite pro-
posal to both Russia and Jahan to be used
as basis for the adjustment Of their differ
ences. While the details Of this important
move on the Presidents part are not dis
closed, it Is admitted that it Is Of character
80 entirely sane and reasonable that the
Powers of Europe would virtually insist
upon it's acceptance by the two warning
nations II they knew Of its character and
scope.
But for the present Mr.. Roosevelt is
working entirely with Russia and Japan,
neither OF whom, however, is yet willing to
bring forward the President plan OF settle
ment, partly for the reason that it is con-
trary to the basis upon which they have
been negotiating, and partly because, il the
details OF the matter became public, there
would be an immediate insistance on the
part Of the neutral covers that the belliger-
ents get together in accordance with the
suggestions outlined from Oyster Bay.
The understanding obtained here with
regard to the Presidents proposition is
that it was made known to the respective
ENJOYS through their Governments This
appears to account for the positive state
ments of those in authority on the Russian
side that Mr.. Roosevelt confined his COM
munications to the plenipotentiaries to
general tender Of good Offices and did not
make any specific suggestions.
SITUATION FREELY DISCUSSED.
But whether the President in his direct
exchanges with the ENJOYS did or did not
make any specific propositions is now
matter OF no consequence in the knowl-
edge that a plan prepared and Endorsed
by him has been placed before Mr.. Witte
and Baron Komura and has received the
most serious consideration.
1t is fact, however, that in the week
that has passed since President Roosevelt
had his interview at Oyster Bay with Baron
Rosen, Mr.. Whites colleague, the President
has had comprehensive correspondence
by telegraph and through the medium Of
special messen gers with both Russian and
Japanese ENJOYS, in which every point Of
difference was discussed in the minutest
detail in free and frank manner and in this
exchange OF views the President did not
hesitate to suggest what he regarded as
reasonable means for common understand
ing on the part of the two belligerents.
In his communications to the Russians
setting forth his reason why there should
be peace made at Portsmouth the Presi-
dent spoke plainly. He said with frank
ness that Russia had been beaten, and
could gain nothing by going on with the
war.
In the name Of humanity he appealed for
peace and made 1t clear that he believed the
Japanese were showing moderation which
Russia should meet half way by asserting
to buy back territory formerly belonging
to Russia but now held by japanese troops.
What more was said by the President,
particularly that part Of his proposal which
is expected to meet with the approval
OF the world, will probably be disclosed
shortly unless the belligerents manage to
make up their differences and agree upon
the terms Of peace treaty In the mean
time.
The Russians here are not pleased over
the Presidents attitude. They hold that
- has gons to great lsnsths IN an effort to.
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