Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-08-12
TWO DEMANDS ARE REJECTED OUTRIGHT
Cars Government Will Decline to Pay
Money or Osds sakhalin Island.
FEELING OF PEsSlMlSM PREVAILS
Belief that Negotiations Will End in Rup-
ture Within Week.
JAPANESE ULrlMA1UM EXPECTED MONDAY
General Opinion that MikadO's En-
vOys VIII Not Yield Any Points
that Muscovites Consider
Essential.

Essential.
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Aug u.-Russias
reply to the japanese terms of peace will |
be delivered by NJ. Witte to Baron Komura |
at $3.50 O'Clock tomorrow morning. The re- |
ply is written there being two texts one |
in French, the other in English. Upon the |
two crucial points. indemnity and the ces- |
sion Of the island OF sakhalin the reply |
is an absolute non possimus. other points ]
are accepted as bases for discussion, while /
still others are accepted conditionally. The |
reply is rather long. because in enumerat- |
ing the conditions upon whicn discussion Is
admitted and those upon which considera- |
ton Is declined, reasons and arguments
are given. The japanese plenipotentiaries
are expected to ask for immediate ad-
iournment and prepare their reply. NJ.
witte will probably intimate that the Rus
sian plenipotentiaries expect the Japanese
10 display as much expedition as they the
Russians) have shown in the preparation
of their response. Monday therefore Is
expected to be the day on which the real
discussion will begin. Neither side wants
TO indulge in diplomatic sparring. The
time for fencing is over and less than a
week must decide whether a basis of peace
is possible.
Japa Guard Secrets.
The tactics Of the Japanese are inscruta-
BILE They have showed throughout the war
this ability to guard their secrets. military
and diplomatic, and not the remotest clew
comes from behind their closed doors as to
whether they are prepared TO make sub
stanttaI concessions. Silence and secrecy
!, are their watchwords rut II the conditions
p as submitted constitute their last word
hone OF peace may be regarded as having
disappeared, II the feeling reflected In Rus
sian circles is a true criterion. And that
no substantial concessions on the main is
sues will be made is the belief both in Rus
sian and Japanese circles.
Tonight in the inner camps Of both plen-
ipotentiaries, the deepest pessimism reigns.
M Witte, II is positively known, believes
the prospects Of an agreement are so re-
mote as 20 be practically nil. He has no
desire to prolong the agony and instead of
fessoins, when the vplenipot antiaries come to-
. Eether after the japanese have had the
opportunity TO examine the reply, there is
strong reason to believe he will not only
welcome but will insist upon immediate
discussion OF the proposed bases. So pes
simstic is he that he has already been
talking TO colleagues OF his plans when the
rupture comes. Before sailing for home
he contemplates brief visit to Chicago
they touch the main points will not be
withdrawn OF materially modified is the
opinion of the most competent Japanese
authority on the ground who will talk for
publication, namely, Mr.. Julio Kumpei
Matsumato, a member OF the japanese par
lament. who Is here as financial ennis
sary OF Japan and who is in close COM
munioatlon with Baron KonIura and Mr..
Takahira The reasons he assigns are ex-
tremely interesting. He said tonight:
N Insist on Two Points.
The conditions In their broad outlines
Z Japan, and the Russians will beSvery much
mistaken II they Imagine the Japanese YIN
Si s5S 1pGH the the eesSSn TS Gaes a aSn Te
surrender either is impossible, II Baron
Komura should Yield on siese points, pub
that he would be murdered upon his return
TO japan. We must be reimbursed for the
claims 10 sakhslin which we have never
About 200 years ago the island was ex-
occupied by Japanese. Juzo Konda, who
occupied IL in the name Of Japan and called
time also inhabited the island of Hokkaido.
Finally 1t was discovered by Russian
captain, who occupied II In the name OF
Russia. Japan protested, and a long. de
sultory negotiation followed But Japan
navy. nor internal organization. Lsdeed,
the country was almost on the verge OF
upshot was that Russia one day ended the
controyeTsy by announcing that i would
take Sakhaltn and give the Japanese
Chisma (Kurles) islands-which Japan al
Japan had no desire TO humilate Russia
more than Is necessary, and even now Is
seeking to avoid wounding Russian sus-
capabilities. but public opinion in Japan is
absolutely so nrm upon the main Issues
that no Japanese statesman could possibly
dare 10 withdraw the terms which have
The japanese government has only asked
what, according 10 Japanese ideas, ar,
considered most moderate terms, strong
party IN Japan favored claiming not only
sakhalin, the Lao Tune peninsula, pro,
Manchuria, but also the cesson to Japar
OF the territory around the mouth OF the
Amur.
Question Of Credentials.
The question of the credentials has beer
amicably adjusted upon the assurance o.
the Japanese that the powers granted
Baron Komura were in the regular form
always employed by Japan. NJ, Witte vii
not pursue the matter further. II is be
lieved that his object in presenting hi
note on the subject was that il might &,
into the record OF the conference to shoV
that the widely published inrimations from
japanese sources before the conference tina
the powers granted him would not be ful
and ample were not only without founda
greater than those bestowed upon Barol
Komura.
one Of the biggest features OF the da!
az the Worth hotel was the publication o
J, the Japanese terms by the Associates
~ Press Efforts were made TO discredi
their authority. but neither the Japanes
nor Russians would discuss the subject an
before nightfall, all those interested be
came convinced OF their accuracy. Bot
Al a..
men Of the respective sides. declined TO sa
anything ofhcially about the terms. which
by mutual agreement. were 20 be kept sec
ret, but NJ. korOstevetE, in the name OF N
Witte, did not hesitate 10 cOnhrm the &C
n curacy OF the Associated Press this state
"a ment that the Russian reply was complete
and would be presented tomorrow morninl
He even went 20 the extent OF saying tina
Continued on Second Paeel