Arizona republican., 1905-08-22
RUSsIA'S LAST WORD.
1t Is Being Prepared in Cipher for
 Transmission to Portsmouth.

St. Petersburg, Aug. 22.-G:15 a. m.)-The Russian governments final statement to NJ. Witte, outlining the course that he shall pursue at the re- opening of the peace conference at Portsmouth are still in the process of being put into cipher prior to being forwarded to America. With the re- ceipt of St. Petersburg's last message the brief breathing spell will have ended. St. Petersburg leaves the final word with her representatives at Portsmouth.
 The Associated Press is in a posi- tion to state that when the nature of these communications become general ly known, it will be seen that in sincere desire to effect a satisfactory settlement, the government has gone as far as it's extremely vital state in- terests will permit.
 It can be further said that for this reason the government is firmly con- Yinced that in case of the failure of the negotiations the responsibility will not rest with Russia. which has con- ceded much already. While it is inn possible to learn the actual contents of the governments communication to M Witte, it can be declared that the requirements of the state make con sessions of the questions of indemnity and Sakhalin, as those questions were | originally presented by the Japanese. impossible.
 It is certain that in the matter of concession, the four points now in dis pute have been considered and, stud jed in the light of concessions Russia already has granted the other eight articles. The foregoing is a brief but accurate outline of the platform upon which M. Witte will meet the Japan csc plenipotentiaries today.
 ] Baron de Rosen's reports regarding his interview with President Roose- , welt have been received here and their perusaI by the government has only increased their feeling of gratitude and appreciation for President Roosevelt s continued efforts. Baron de Rosen's communications to the emperor are such as do not require a special an swer A hopeful feeling was especial ly noticed here yesterday that peace was still possible and it is believed by some that Russia's answer will give material evidence of such a sincere desire to reach d settlement that Ja- pan will practically be forced to ac- cept it or appear before the world ut terly unreasonable and unsuitable. It Is believed that the questions OI
 the surrender of inteTned ships and
 the limitations of Russia's naval pow
 CT in the far east will be satisfactor- . fly settled. There remains the Ques-
 ton of the indemnity and the cessior
 of Sakhalin by Russia. The first may
 be overcome by Russia following Ja- pans lead in avoiding the use of the word indemnity" but consenting tc
 make certain payments to Japan or
 other scores, the chief of these being
 JaDan's bill for keeping 100000 pris- oners, which is expected to be very
 heavy. The sums mentioned as the
 possible payment on account of these
 prisoners range from S50,000,000 tC
 $50, ,O0O. .OOO.
 Little or nothing is Obtainable here regarding the possible disposition ot the question relating to Sakhalin. In-
 terest has been manifested lately in the
 attitude of the Japanese people and il
 is recognized in some quarters that
 the Japanese government and plenipo-
 tentiaries may have to shape theil course to meet and satisfy the demands 1 voiced by the Japanese public.
 1 There is reason to believe that the 1 idea that Japan might not be able tC | find money to continue the war has not i been considered here as a serious 1 weakness of the Japanese position.