The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-24
THE CzAR's REPLY.
Answer to Roosevelt's Appeal Is. in
Presidents Hands.


Portsmouth, N. H, Aug. 24.-The
personality of President Roosevelt
looms larger and larger in the crisis
He stands between the warning coun-
tries insisting that the conference shall
not fail. Had not he stepped into the
breach, the conference probably would
already have gone to pieces. Such
hopes as remain that it will end IN
peace and a treaty, rest upon him. the
strength of the presidents position is
that he commands the confidence of
both sides. He has already accom-
plished much, using his good offices to
impress upon each side the necessity
of mutual concession and both sides
have already yielded a great deal to his
persuasion. Only a single point still
separates them, but it is as it has been
from the beginning, the crux. Mr..
ROOSeVelt'S compromise proposition,
which Baron Komura formally pre-
scented at yesterdays meeting in which
Japan agreed to entirely withdraw
articles 10 and IL and to substitute for
articles and number. of articles
which Japan should get legal title to
the southern half of Sakhalin. which
she possessed before the treaty of
1875, while Russia should redeem or
repair her title to the northern half of
the island for 1900 million yen, or
$500, 100000.
While it is Mr.. Roosevelt's PROPOSE
ton in substance, the Associated Press
is informed that as offered yesterday,
it varies slightly from the text of the
compromise as suggested by both
sides. In exactly what particular it
cannot be ascertained. Russia, it can
be stated, while rejecting the comprO-
mise because it included a remunera-
ton for the cost of the war under an
other name, was willing and indeed
offered the island of Sakhalin by not
only restoring the status quo existing
before the treaty of 1875, but agreeing
to limit the frontier and foseVer re
nounce all claim to the southern half.
With articles 10 and IL out of the
way by Japanese recession and arti-
Gle settled by compromise, the only
thing which remained was the in
demnity which has been a stone wall
across the path of complete agree
ment. Russia offered to pay literally
for the maintenance of the Russian
prisoners in Japan. Her cession of the
Chinese Eastern railroad also will
place a tidy sum in the Japanese ex-
chequer, but further than that Mr.
White has as yet no instructions.
So the situation stood yesterday
when the conference adjourned until
Saturday. But the president did not
surrender. He carried his appeal for
peace to the czar. Ambassador Meyers
three hour audience with the emperor
during the very time when the pleni-
potentiaries at the navy yard were ex-
planning to each other their irrecon-
cilable differences may have proved
the deciding factor.
There is yet no clue to the response
Mr. Meyer received from Emperor
Nicholas. but it is already in President
Roosevelt's possession and he is in a
position today to define his next step.
If the emperor declined absolutely to
yield there may be still time to turn
to Toxic for a last appeal to forego
$3OO,0OO,OOO or $4OO,OOO.0OO rather
than protract the war indefinitely at
the cost of millions in money and
thousands of lives, with no surety that
she will ever be able, whatever her
military successes, to force tribute
from her adversary.