The Washington times., 1905-08-24
Mikado'S Envoy Will Not
View With Favor Any
Modification.
SAKHALIN THE TROUBLE
Proposition Relating to Di-
vision Not to Be ConSid-
cred by Government.

PORTSMOUTH, Aug. 24--Japan will
not view with favor any modifca tion7
of her peace demands that include the
sale of part or all OF Sakhalin, and
the waving of the claim for reimburse
ment for war expenditures.
Ishikwa, editor of the Hochi Shin-
bun, of Tokyo, the organ of Count
Ckuma, the former prime minister of
Japan, has received a cable from his
PAPER making such an announcement.
1t was in response to a message sent by
him last night relative TO the japanese
proposals 1t asked for an expression
of opinion. The reply is as follows:
THE terms as cabIed by you are such
that no japanese statesman can accept
them. Sakhalin is a vital necessity 20
the Japanese people and cannot be dl-
vided About forty-nve years ago Rus
sia proposed to divide SalShalin, but the
japanese government would not ag1 ee
10 a division, and it urged thao the
/ island, as a whole belonged 10 Japan
| We could not now give up any part of
| the island
May Mean Further War.
| You state rhat the indemnity Will be
| less than Sf65, y49, 0G0 That will not
| meet our cost of the war We do not
| like the attitude of the Russians. and Il
/ Russia maintains her present attitude
| il is very doubtful if there Will be
| peace in the Orient
| we must fight for the just and last
| ing peace of the East"
Count Okuma. one Of the great states
men of Japan, Is the political rival OF
| the present prime minister and the gov
| eFnment party in power.
/ This morning the Russian and japan
/ ese diplomats here were busily discuss
| ing the modified peace terms Of Japan
| and the Cars refusal TO grant them
Nj Witte, after receiving q long cable
message today from Czar Nicholas. reit-
Grated his statement made here maAy
/ times since he arrived that Russia
would never agree TO pay one cent O1
war indemnity 10 Japan, either directly
/ o. indirectly,
Il will never sign treaty which con
/ tains indemnity in any form whatever,
declared NJ. Witte again today.
/ THE Russian government Is even more
| militant than l am. II IS opposed 10 in
demnity in any form. l do not look fol
| a change in my Instructions
Enjoys Deadlocked.
So it can be seen that despite the per
sistent and energetic endeavors of Presi
dent Roosevelt for peace, despite tht
new proposition which was made by
Japan TO Russia. despite an intense de
sire Of the ENJOYS of both nations Il
end the war. the negotiations are II
exactly the same position In which they
/ were last Friday. when the Preslden
stepped in. The ENJOYS are once more
deadiocked on the indemnity question
As the ENJOYS have adjourned THEN
conference sessions until day after TO
morrow. there is every indication thai
until the Gar recedss from his presen
position on the = ikhalin Island and in,
Gemnity questions. or the MikadO con
sents to still further modify his de
mapds the conference vii! be resumed
on Saturday with the respective envoy!
seemingly hOpelessly deadIOcked St
far AS a possible agreement would b,
concerned.
The men in both peace missions were
asrir early today. NJ, Witte held {
prolonged conference with Baron Roset
INN mcdiately after breakfast had beer
served When their talk had been con
Cluded NJ. Witte wrote out a dispatch
and sent IL off 10 St Petersburg.
i Negotiations on in Earnest.
The negotiations between the pIenipo.
tentiarfes Of Japan and Russia hay,
begun IN earnest.
All that has gone before is to all in
tents and purposes, preliminary to the
final enga cement, which began at yes
terday's session.
From now on it will be a question OF
bargaining.
Money, money" is Japan's cry.
Not a kopeck." is Russfa's response
Sakhaliu. limitation of naval strength
interned ships, and all the other sub
jccts which entered into this peace
prOslem have been relegated to q posi-
tiOn Of comparative insignificance
Japan is making Il determined effor
TO get her hand into the Cars treasury
She wishes 10 supplement her gIoriou,
achievements on land and sea by :
diplomatic mancuver that will recon
pense her for the enormous expense I,
which she has been forced. All the now
cr Of the Cars CmDire is being uti}ize,
70 resist this alleged financial encroaCb