Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1905-08-26
PEACE IN THE BALANCE
Decision Now Rests With the
Emperor of Russia.
JAPAN MAKES CONCESSIONS
Valves Interned warships and Naval
Limitation and Asks Witte
to Accept Compromise.

PORTSMOUTH, y. H., Aug. "a
The Japanese plenipotentiaries at the
conclusion of the afternoon session of
the peace conference threw the cards
upon the table. 1t was the dramatic
moment-the moment to which all the
previous proceedings Of the conference
had led The protocols involving
agreement upon eight of the twelve
conditions originally presented by ia
pan had been signed. One side or the
other must make a move or the pleni
potentiaries had reached the parting
of the ways. The adyersaries faced
each other across the table. or course
1t was well understood what would
happen, but that in way only made
it more dramatic. Figuratively Pres
ident Roosevelt suddenly entered the
conference room. M. White sat silent,
and the move in the great diplomatic
game passed to Japan.
Baron Komura in a few words ex-
planned that Japan in her great desire
for peace was ready to make certain
notifications" of the original articles
In the hope that Russia could find 1t
possible to accept them. He then pre-
scented I'm writing to NJ. Witte the com
promise proposition which President
Roosevelt had suggested. IL was con-
crete and specific, and it followed the
lines outlined in these dispatches. 1t
offered TO withdraw article 81 proyid-
ing for the payment by Russia of ia
pans bill for the cost of war on con
dition that Russia would accept arti-
Gle s. which provides for the cession
of the island of Sakhalin, so modified
as to include an arrangement for the
repurchase by Russia of the northern
half of the island for 100000 900
yen. In addition, it offered to with
draw entirely articles IL and II (sur-
render of the informed warships and
limitation upon Russia's sea power in
the far east. 1t was President Roose-
velt's compromise, and NJ. Witte knew
its contents as well as Baron Komura.
The question of whether he had been
"bluffing" was put to the test.
Without moments hesitation NJ.
Witte explained that the modification
proposed was merely sham, change
of phraseology, diplomatic attempt
to "sweeten the pin and ask Russia
TO pay war tribute under another
name. He could not accept 1t. He told
Baron Komura Russia wanted peace.
She had given the proofs in accepting
every article involving the issues upon
which the war was fought, but she
could fight, and money for tribute she
would not pay, not kopeck. He asked
Baron Komura to withdraw all de-
mands for tribute. And so the pleni-
potentiaries separated to meet again
on Saturday ostensibly to permit Nj.
WHITE to place in writing, as the rules
of the conference require, his reply to
the japanese compromise proposition.
In reality the adjournment over the
two days was to give each side an op,
portunity to consult it's government for
| the last time
The decision rests, as il has from the
| first, with Russia Unless the emperor
| agrees to yield between now and Sat
urday the end is likely to come on that
day. And the indications from Peter
hof, instead of raising the chances of a
| change of heart on the part of the EN-
peror seem TO Indicate even a firmer
determination to yield neither territory
nor indemnity, sugar coated though the
latter may be.
President RooxeveIGs Final Effort.
| OYSTER BAY, N ", Aag. "a
President Roosevelt's final effort TO in
duce cessation of hostilities in the far
east is almost dramatic in its extraor-
binary interest. Through George Won
l.. Meyer, the American ambassador at
St Petersburg, he made direct APP
peal to Emperor Nicholas to permit the
adoption of such measures in the pend
ing peace conference as will terminate
the war A long cablegram was sent to
Ambassador Meyer by the president. 1t
contained instructions for representa-
tons on behalf of President Roosevelt
to be made directly to the Russian en-
peror. There is reason for the belief
that those representations We're com
municated TO the Russian ENJOYS at
Portsmouth through the presidents