Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-23
AGAIN POSTPONED.
Peace Conference Put Over from Tues.
day, to $50, This Morning.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 22.-It mas
been decided 10 postpone until Wednes-
day the meeting Of the peace confer
ehce which was to have taken place
Tuesday afternoon. The failure Of the
secretaries to complete the protocols Is
given as the reason.
The following official bulletin was is
sued at 1920 A. M:
lowing to the impossibility of fin
ishing before o'clock, Tuesday after
noon. the work OF preparing the pro-
tocols Of the meetings Of the confer
ence. today's meeting has been ad-
tourned until $50 O'Clock, Wednesday
morning"
Another glimmer of hope. The meet
ing of the peace plenipotentiaries
which was to have been held. Tuesday
afternoon. has been postponed until
Wednesday morning. at $50. The off,
cial reason assigned for this change OF
program was that the secretaries had
not yet completed the work of draft
ing the protocols for submission fol
the signatures Of the plenipotentiarfes
This is true. but there is a more po-
tent reason. NJ. Witte has not yet re-
ceived the final word from st. Peters
burg. 1t was expected. Tuesday morn
ing II did not come and therefore with
NJ. Whites authorization. M. Blancon'
who was hard at work on the Russian
protocol. went to Mr.. Sato, the Japan
csc secretary. and suggested the post
ponement. Baron komura approved
and the announcement was issued.
AZ the situation now stands, NJ
witte could not If he would cede or
compromise on either Article (Sak-
ralin) or Article .. Indemnity. The in
structions given him by the Emperor
before he left st. Petersburg preclud-
ed the possibility of either and 1t can
be stated that up to the present hour
every message he has received indi-
rectly or directly from his Emperor
shows no sign of any change of mind.
And from the private advices the adj
vieers whom the Emperor is consulting
seem practically unanimous In support
Of the view that further concessions
are inconsistent with Russia's "dignf-
~ and honor" and that unless Japan
Is prepared to yield something sub
stantial-not upon Articles 10 or IA.
but upon Articles and Git is better
TO continue the war.
against hope there is still a possibility
that the Emperor will take President
Roosevelt's advice and take the only
step which the President thinks can
save the conference from shipwreck.
The Presidents suggestion Is not gen
oral and vague. but quite concrete. II
II is finally rejected 1t is said not to In
volve a specific answer, but NJ. White
IS anxious that the Emperor shall have
full time To deliberate and the Japan
Csc have no desire to force the issue.
They Will welcome a few days delay
IT delay keeps the door to peace open.
There Ia a strong intimation that the
Japanese are prepares to make a prop
Osition when the conference re-assem-
blee. But there is nothing to indicate
that they are prepared to reccde on
either Articles s or .. Ten and II they
might fOrego. But that would hardly
bring peace nearer. Five and remain
now us at the beginning the seemingly
fnsurmountabe obstacles to peace.
The protocol IL being prepared in
French by NJ. Plancon. one Of the Rus
sian secretaries. who, in collaboration
with the japanese secretaries. will
make an English translation Of the
document. The protocol is to be a
faithful photograph Of the proceedings.
showing In a condensed form the argu-
mentS advanced on each side in sup
port of the position taken by each on
the different articles. When the Japan
csc take exception to the verbiagc en-
ployed by NJ. Plancon the exact words
to be used are agreed to between them
and If an issue arises which they cam
not adjust II is referred to the respec-
tive chiefs. Baron Komura and NJ
White. All has thus far gone smoothly
Should treaty eventually be agreed
upon II will be written In French with
an English copy attached. But the
French text will be the document
signed and will govern in case of dis
pute over Interpretation.
plan for compromising the differ
e"ces between the plenipotentiaries on
Article . (Sakhalin) has been suggest
cd. 1t contemplates the restoration of
the status quo existing before 1877
wneh Russia held the southern and
Japan the northern part of the island.
ms IL Is commended. should satisfy the
''a'iohai claims OF Japan and at the
same time relieve Russia of the dam
ger Of Invasion of the mainland which
1t Is declared by the Russians would
exist If the island were in the full pos
session of the Japanese. Such mo-
ton. Of course, would involve some sort
OF a mixed commission to delimit the
frontier which was never definitely
fixed. This suggestion in the gossip Is
attributed to President Roosevelt, but
no evidence is offered to support such
a supposition. Mr.. Briantchaninoff,
correspondent of the st. Petersburg
Slove - advocating this compromise
IN his DISPATCHES.
Article 10 of Japans demands provides
that the Russian warships informed in
neutral ports shall be turned over to