Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-25
DESPERATE BUT NOT HOPELESS
CONTINUED from Page One-)

title 10 the southern half OF Sakhalin
which she possessed before the treaty
Of 1875 while Russia should redeem
or repurchase her title 10 the northern
half OF the island fer s60O,0O0.OOO.
While II IL Mr.. Roosevelts PROPOSE
ton in substance The Ass ociated Press
"a Informed as offered, yesterday. II
varies slightly from the terms of the
compromise as the President suggest
ed II TO both sides. In exactly what
particular cannot be ascertained. Rus
sia IL can be stated. while rejecting
the compromise because II included re-
Enumeration for cost OF the war under
another name was willing and indeed
offered to divide the island of Sakha-
lin by not only restoring the status
quo existing before the treaty of 1S-"
but TO delimIt the frontier and for
ever renounce ali claim TO the southern
half.
With Articles 10 and II out OF the
way by Japanesc recession and article
five settled by compromise the only
thing which remained was the indemn-
ity-the payment of tribute-money,
the obstacle which from tho first has
stood like a stonewall across the path
of a complete agreement. Russia offers
TO pay literally for the maintenance
of the Russian prisoners in Japan and
the c,.ssion OF the Chinese eastern rail-
road will place tidy sum in the Jap
anese exchequer but further than that
NJ White has vet no instructions 70 go.
So the situation stood when the con-
ference adjourned over yesterday until
Saturday. But the President did not
surrender. He carried his appeal for
peace TO the throne Of the Romanoffs.
TO the author OF the dream OF reduced
ornaments and universal peace.
Ambassador Meyers three hour au-
dience with Emperor Nicholas Yesterday.
during the very time when the plenipo-
fentiaries at the navy yard were ex-
planning 10 each other. their differences
may have proved the deciding factor.
There IS yet no clue 10 the response Mr.
Meyer received from Emperor Nicholas
but II IS already in President Roosevelt's
Possession and he IL in a position, today
10 determine his next step. II the en-
peror declined absolutely 10 yield there
may be still time to turn 10 Toxic for a
last appeal to forego 100000 or 800
10000 rather than protraCt the war An
definitely at the cost Of millions In
money and thousands of lives with no
surety that she will ever be able, no
matter what her military successes 10
force tribute from her burly adversary.
Now too in the final struggle. the in
fuence OF the neutral powers, the
threats OF the fnanciers can be brough,
20 bear to force the combatants to cease
the bloody strife which has been going
on for 10 months The inanc!ers OF the
world are as potent as nations. No
country can conduct military campaigns
with an empty war chest.
The money markets OF the world have
already shown a disposition 10 close
their doors 10 Russia unless he makes
peace In consequence Russia only the
other day sought 10 raise an internal
loan OF &loo0c0 II met with little
response although there Is plenty OF idle
money IN Russia And yesterday, the
cable brought the report that as the at
tempt was a failure the treasury had
resorted TO an issue OF paper. While
a margin OF gold reserve for paper issues
stu remains II Is not large and foreign
bankers could shortly force Russia
upon the paper basis from which NJ.
W1tte rescued it. A failure to respond
40 Japanese appeals would probably
place Japan in even worse position
Then considerat ton in the next few days
may prove all powerful.
1t can be stated with absolute positive
ness now that It was the Presidents
personal message to Emperor Nicholas
yesterday delivered to His Majesty in
person by Mr.. Meyer. which was COM
municated to NJ Witte and Baron Rosen.
n
The President desired that the Russian
plenipo,entisries should he apprised of
the step he contemplated and the fact
that they. as is understood, approved OF
Il is significant In the extreme.
Mr.. Roosevelt until Tuesday had con-
fined himself to communicating with
NJ WHITE and Baron Kaneko. His role
was unofficial. He had not put him
self IN direct COMMUNICATION with ST
Petersburg and Toxic Now he has
made his appeal officially. personally, as
the head of the state to the head of an
other to Emperor Nicholas II Il has
failed there remains a last appeal to
the Emperor of Japan Today super
fcially at least there is a pause NJ
Witse and Baron DeRosen were OF at 10
that they were going TO Magnolia TO
lunch with Baroness DeRosen at the
Russian embassy. NJ. Witte and ne ex-
pected 10 return tonight but might
stay over until tomorrow
little incident occurred just before
they left which may or may not be
significant Mr.. Peirce the assistant
secretary Of state was hastily telephon-
ed for and came 10 the hotel at go. He
was with NJ WItte for % minutes. Then
they left Mr.. PIERCE dismissed the visit
with the explanation that il was only TO