The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-28

-Witte Planned TO Leave Portsm outh
Hope Of Agreement Now Not strong.
PoRTsMoUTH. N. H.; Aug. 27.-At the
very moment when the peace conference
was about to end in failure President Roose-
welt has stepped into the breach and caused
a postponement Of what was generally
regarded as the final meeting The mere
fact that through the Presidents efforts
the meeting fixed for Tomorrow will not be
held until Tuesday may not appear to be
very important development. but 1t means
another twenty-four hours gained, and
every additional day that the conference
lasts affords reason for hope Of successful
outcome.
1t was at the solicitation of the Japanese
ENJOYS that the arrangement for the post
ponement OF the next meeting was made
They were impelled to this course by q
message from Baron Kaneko, the Japanese
financial agent in this country, who acted
in behalf Of the President, with whom he
has had frequent conferences rec emily.
The purpose Of the President in requesting
that there be no session Of the plenipoten-
tiaries until Tuesday has not been disclosed
authoritatively, but there is reason to be-
lieve that he expects the Japanese Govern
ment will send new instructions to Baron
Komura and Mr.. Takahira, which may.
have some effect upon the outcome OF the
negotiations.
Mr.. Takahira; according to information
obtained from Russian sources, told Mr..
White this evening that response which
he and his colleague, Baron Komura. were
expecting to a communication they had
sent to Toxic had not arrived, and it was
desired that additional time be given for
its receipt.
SURPRISE TO RUSSIANS.
day it was with the understanding that
the ENJOYS should next assemble at 3 o'clock
tomorrow afternoon. The Russians did
not doubt that unless something unfore-
seen and entirely unexpected occurred
Mondays meeting would mark the ending
OF the Portsmouth negotiations. So con-
WINGED were they that there was not the
slightest prospect OF peace that they began
packing their trunks and making every
preparation for an early departure.
Mr.. witte, it was learned, had decided
to leave Portsmouth not later than Tues
day afternoon and. after ma king brief
visits TO Chicago and Niagara Falls, sail
for Europe on Sept 8. In his mind not
vestige Of hope remained.
The commands OF the Gar against the
payment Of an indemnity we're imperative.
and the Russian envoy had not the slightest
ground for even suspecting that the jap
anese would abandon their demand for
monetary compensation.
Mr.. Witte looked forward to to-morrow's
meeting resignedly, convinced that it would
be q formal procedure, devoted mainly to
drawing up q protocol Of disagreement.
The request Of the Japanese that there
should be q postponement Of the session
until Tuesday was therefore a total sur
prise.
Tonight the Russians seemingly are en-
couraged by the faint hope that their ad-
versaries will submit new proposals which
may be acceptable to the Gar. Tho Japa-
nese, abandoning their usual retioence.
frankly admit that 1t was at their request
that the postponement from Monday until
Tuesday was agreed upon and that they
were actuated In asking for It by sense
Of courtesy TO President Roosevelt. They
decline to cay whether at tho Tuesday
meeting they will submit new proposals. to
the Russian ENJOYS.
JAPANESE xNvoI's sTATEAENT.
Mr.. Takahira, who called upon Mr.. witts
this evening while Baron Komura was ab-
sent at dinner party. said In an interview
after hs had lett Mr.. Whites apartments:
Il went to Mr.. witte tonight and pro-
posed that tho conference should meek on
Tuesday afternoon instead Of on Monday
afternoon, and hs consented. This action
was taken because We thought that a. We
bad been brought hare to discuss terms OF
peaoo through Tho efforts Of tho President
Of tho United States 1t would bs we'll to 20
slowly and cautiously before ending the
conference, out Of courtesy to him. Whsther
japan viii have any new proposals. to make
visa ~ msst - Tuesday ! an not pre-
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