Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-08-31


peace are continuing their labors. Thu
president failed twice but he is fight
ing on. The result Of Ambassador
Meyers audience at Peterhof Wednes'
day was unsatisfactory but at least II
was not rebuff. 1t left the door oper
and within few hours after the re-
| ceipts at Oyster Bay Of Mr.. Meyers
account Of his audience the president
| had sent new appeal through Mr.
WHITE who received 1t from Mr.. Peirce
about three o'clock Thursday morning
The emperor had already in effect de-
clIned the proposed compromise Of
fered by Japan. He had refused 1t be-
cause under a disguise Japan offered
to withdraw an article asking remuner-
alton for the cost Of the war on con-
dition that Russia repurchase from the
military possessions Of Japan in the
northern part Of Sakhalin at fixed
price of 1,200000,000 yen-the esti-
mated "frais de guerre." Every mes
sage received from Peterhof, including
those that came early Thursday was in
flexible upon that point. Had Japan
not inserted the sum, had that been
left for future adjustment, the prop
osition would undoubtedly have proved
more palatable. And the Associated
press is In a position to state that the
divergence in the compromise as sug-
gested by the president and as offered
by Japan at the conference which
was mentioned in these dispatches
Wednesday night, touched this very
point The president did not suggest
any price or the fixing of a price and
1t Is believed although this can not be
affirmed, that his latest effort was to
secure the consent Of the emperor
to agree to accept the Japanese prop
osltion with the amount subject to fu-
ture adjustment by an arbitration
board or otherwise. According to the
Japanese, Mr.. White has already Of
fered to divide Sakhalln. II the repur-
chase Of Sakhalin was based upon a
purchasable basis the following lines
from the authorized statement of the
Russian position given to the Associ-
ated press Wednesday night should be
borne in mind:
"All that Japan does is to Join the
question of Sakhalin with that Of q
cash payment and to insist upon war
costs under the name Of purchase mon
ey. The transaction Is fictitious and
the terminology misleading. II what
IL proposed be in truth purchase and
sale. 1t should be treated as such and
therefore, should Russia decline to
buy the territory Japan should keep
It and conclude peace on the basis Of
the concessions already made"
Japan, It is believed, would make
the further concession suggested If
Emperor Nicholas would commit HIM
self to this solution. This statement
is based upon the words Of the Japan
ese authority most competent to
speak. When asked If 1t was correct
as reported that the Japanese had
said their last word and that all hope
was over, he replied:
mo, we have not declared our prop
osition Of Wednesday was our irreduc-
bic minimum. We are not assum-
ing q threatening attitude That is
not the way to make peace"
But the plenipotentiaries themselves
no longer control on either side, The
negotiations have passed from their
hands to their principals at Peterhof
and Toxic.
Most persistently the report contin-
ues to be circulated here that Emperor
William has been one Of he main OBJ
stacles to peace: that while ostensi-
bly, in sympathy with the presidents
efforts he Is advising Emperor Nicho-
las not to yield. The foundation for
this belief is the fact which appears
fully confirmed that Mr.. Whites In
structions were made more impera-
tive and intransigient upon the ques-
ton Of indemnity and cesslon Of ter
ritory after the kaiser's interview
with the Russian emperor in the Gulf
Of Finland. Beyond this no evidence
Is offered. II Is significant that Mr..
Wltte made Il q point Thursday night
to express his disbelief in the report
from ST. Petersburg, which caused
considerable CONSERVATION here, that
Count Lamsdorif had authorized Reu-
ter's agent to declare that Russia IN.
der no circumstances would pay
contribution. either direct or indirect
or make a cession Of territory what
ever. Mr., witte said he could moi
imagine that Count Lamsdorf could
have authorised such q statement
without informing him (Witte).
According 10 competent japanese
authority Baron Komura and Mr.. TAX
ahira are opposed 70 the waving Of
Japan's demand for reimbursement Of
varsxpsnses, This authority said: In
the conference the Japsnese conten-