Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-09-01


army reserve men.
RumOrs are current of the impending
resignation of General Durnovo, gov
ernor general of Moscow.
Toxic, Aug 2S-2:3O p. m.-The con-
ference of the cabinet officers and elder
statesmen adjourned at = o'clock this
afternoon and the participants proceeded
to a place where the deliberations were
continued under the presidency of the
emperor. 1t Is believed that the decision
will mean continuance of the war Or
pecae.
The conference began at an early hour
this morning.
The capital continues exactingly quiet.
No manifestations have resulted from
the oUtwardly critical situation.
Portsmouth, \. H., Aug. 2S.-It is
now learned that the conference between
Messrs. Witte and Takahira last even
ing did not bear on the question of the
cession of Sakhalin, or the question OF
indemnity.
At noon Mr.. Takahira said that moth
ing had yet been received from Toxic.
Portsmouth. n. H., Aug. 2S.-The AS
ISOLATED Press has definite knowledge
that several days ago President ROose-
welt was authorized on behalf of Japan
to waive all claim for indemnity or re-
endorsement for the cost of the war
and to cede back to Russia the north
half Of Sakhalin island, leaving the re
demption" price of the same to the arbl-
tration of mixed commission.
Car Given Information.
This statement was transmitted to
the Russian Emperor through the Amer
lean ambassador at st. Petersburg.
An Associated Press telegram an
nounced that the Cars reply was par
TALLY responsive" There is reason to
believe that this proposition on behalf
of Japan was not clearly understood at
peterhof, but was supposed to be q
revival of the effort of Japan to secure
an indemnity under the guise of pur-
chase money for the fraction of SAX
halin.
Japan May Settle.
1t is believed the conference which
was held last evening between Messrs
Witte and Takahira was for the pur-
pose Of clearing up the situation and it
is now not improbable that following
the precedent of its ally, Great Britain,
Japan will agree to settle the whole
question Of the redemption price of SAX
halin as the DOgger Bank troubles were
adjusted
The japanese contention is that SAX
halin island is de facto japanese terri
tory and that Russia has no means at
her command for its present recovery.
1t is understood that Mr.. Witte has
accepted this view in principle and ex-
pressed the judgment that Russia should
pay something in the nature of redemp-
ton money.
1t is believed that the Toxic council
which is in session this morning is CON
sidering this phase of the question.
President Did Nothing
1t Is not true that the adjournment
which was agreed to last night until
| Tuesday afternoon was made at the
! suggestion of President Roosevelt. There
! is reason for believing that he knew
| nothing whatever of it, but the adjourn
ment was by mutual agreement between
! Messrs. White and Takahira.
Kept Alive by President.
The peace conference is ikened to a
| dying man kept alive by oxygen adj
ministered by President Roosevelt Yet
no actual evidence can be obtained here
that the President has made new ap-
peal to the Emperor of Japan. What
! may have been only slip of the tongue
! from Mr.. White was so interpreted
! Speaking of the final decision of the
! Toxic government he remarked on the
! fourteen-hour difference of time between
! Oyster Bay and Toxic, but then hastily
corrected himself and said New York
and Toxic" Certainly the President
has not initiated new representations at
! Peterhof.
Emperor Nicholas reply to Ambassa-
| dor Meyer was of such a nature as to
! preclude another tentative proposal in
| that direction at this stage. Later the
| way might be open but for the moment
to offer new advice in the face of what
! practically amounted to an ultimatum
from the Emperor on the subject of i'll
! demnity might be to court a rebuff
All Eyes on Toxic.
New representations at Toxic alone
would, perhaps, not be in accordance
with the Presidents role At least if
would constitute a change of his atti
tude. Heretofore he has not acted as
mediator, but as the head of a state
friendly to both parties rendering his
good offices and friendly advice impar-
tally and simultaneously to both. The
| President took good care that this should
! be distinctly understood. The comDro-
mise he suggested to Peterhof, he suc-
gested simultaneously to Toxic. 1t
| would seem probable, therefore, that the
President has not attempted to influence
directly theQuestion of Japan's RESPONSES
to the fiat refusal of Russia to pay any
thing IN the shape of indemnity. All
| eyes turn to Toxic, where the momen.
tous question is being, and indeed, per
| haps, already has been, decided. The
action of the meeting of the cabinet
and elder statesmen this morning was
awaited with feverish anxiety.
Mr.. White frankly expresses skepti
cism of the effect of any new prop0s0
Japan may be able to offer He does
not believe Japan will withdraw entirely
her demand for reimbursement of the
expenses of the war and to scale il
down or attempt to disguise it in another
form he declares would not change the
situation.
Mr.. Takahira is quoted as having re
piled in the negative when asked wheth
er any modification of the japanese pro
posal would touch the question of in
demnity. But such a response may only
have been technical.
A Possible Solution.
\ clear road out of the embroglio 10y
which Japan could obtain q very large
sum and Russia stand by her presen
declaration. can be discerned if japan
will offer in new proposal to withdraw
the price she places upon the redemption
of the northern half of the island anC
place it upon Il basis, for instance, Sucl
as the President suggested. of determi
nation by mixed commission. Accept
ance by Russia would in turn involve
change upon the part of the St. Peters
burg government, but indemnity as ;
stumbling block would be out of the wa.