Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-24
One Billion Two Hundred Million Yen
Asked for North Half .
I'LL YIELD ALL OTHER POINTS
Witte Says Proposal Represents Only
Change in PhraSeOlOgy.
ENJOYS WILL MEET AGAIN SATURDAY
Russian Reply VIII he Put in
writing I'm MeRntime-LRst ses-
sion Unless Grent Change
Takes Place.


PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 23-From an
authoritative Japanese source the AS
ISOLATED Press is informed that the propo-
sitlon to divide the island Of Sakhalin
came originally from the Russian side.
PORTSMOUTH. Aug. 23.-The Japahese
plenipotentiaries at the conclusion Of the
afternoon session today Of the peace con-
ference threw the card upon the table. II
was the dramatic moment-the moment TO
which all the previous proceedings Of the
conference had led. The protocols involv-
ing agreement upon eight OF the twelve
conditions originally presented by Japan
had been signed.
One side or the other must make a move
or the plenipotentiaries had reached the
parting of the ways. The adversaries faced
each other across the table OF course II
was well understood what would happen,
but that in a way only made It more dra-
matte Figurauvely, President Roosevelt
suddenly entered the conference room. NJ
Witte sat silent and the move in the great
diplomatic game passed to Japan. Baron
Komura i'm few words explained 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 It possible to accept them. He
then presented in writing 10 NJ. Witte the
compromise proposition which President
Roosevelt had suggested. 1t was concrete
and specific and It followed the lines out
lined in these dispatches. Il offered to with
draw article tx, providing for the payment
by Russia OF Japan's bill for the cost OF
war. on conditions that Russia would ac-
cept article V. which provides for the ces-
sion of the island of Sakhalin, so modified
as to include an arrangement for the re-
.
of the island for 200 900, ,oOO yen. In addition
it offered to withdraw entirely articles XII
and xii surrender of the interned warships
and limitation upon Russa's sea power in
the far east) 1t was President Roosevelt's
compromise and NJ Wltte knew its contents
as we'll as Baron Komura,
witte Refuses Proposition.
The question OF whether he had been
"buffng" was put TO the test. without
moments hesitation NJ. Witte explained
that the modification proposed was merely a
sham, a change of phraseology, a diplo-
matte attempt to "dorer la pilule" and
asked Russia to pay war tribute under an
other name He could not accept IT, He
told Baron Komura Russia wanted peace.
1t had given the proofs I'm accepting every
article involving the issues upon which the
war was fought, but It could fight, and
money lOI lIlbult u Wbulu not pay uol u
kopeck. He asked Baron Komura to with
draw all demands for tribute. And so the
plenipotenuares separated to meet again on
Saturday, ostensibly TO permit Mr. witte
to place in writing, the rules OF the con-
ference require, his reply to the Japanese
compromise proposition. In reality the ad-
journment- over the two days was to give
each side opportunity to consult Its gov
ernment for the last time
The outlook is black. Many believe It was
never so black as tonight. The japanese
are not talking Indeed tonight they ap-
| pear to be more taciturn and more resolute
than ever. The only possible line OF further
! Japanese concession is considered to lie in
the diminution of the amount OF the pur-
chase money demanded for the north half
! of SalShalin.
Decision Rests with Csnr.
The decision rests, therefore, as II has
from the first, with Russia. Unless the en-
/ peror agrees to yield between now and
Saturday the end is likely to come on that
/ day and the indications from Peterhoi
show even a firmer determination to yield
neither territory nor Indemnity sugar.
coated though the latter may be.
| The long instructions received last night
while not a reply to the communication of
! President Roosevelt, given TO NJ. Witte at
the navy yard yesterday afternoon, is OF a
character to almost completely destroy hope
| that It will be possible for NJ. Witte 70
| satisfy the japanese demand. NJ. Witte
| himself has been quoted saying that he
| would not, II ordered to do so by the EN-
peror, sign a treaty involving the payment
OF a kopeck. But It must be borne in mind
that NJ. Witte in the negotiations is not
a free agent, he represents his emperor
Z T.
would not fail. He would make peace, he
sympathizes with the solution offered b,
the president, but his hands are tied anC
unless he receives an imperial command, h,
cannot move.
Black as the prospect appears tonight
however, the failure Of the negotiations II
not certain. The Russian camp Is pessi
mistic TO a man. but they all know tn
quick and startling changes Of front tina
sometimes take place at Peterhof. An,
there arc factors I'm the situa tion whicl
might AFFECT one OF those sudden and mex
plicabe changes in the emperor's attitud
which has frequently astonished Russia
Presidents Latest Move.
Private advices from St. Petersburg sa,
7 that sentiment there. IN Moscow and Il
large centers favors acceptance OF IN
compromise This may mean much. Blu
the real hope still rests with Presiden
Roosevelt. He is resourceful. He has mad
another move. He has sent Ambassado
Meyer direct 10 the emperor and they wer
together, according 20 advices receives
here, for three hours today.
: Mr.. Roosevelt himself tonight may knoy
more about how the emperor feels than N
Witte and be able TO act upon the informa
. tion conveyed 10 him by his ambassador
J The report Is industriously circulated her
that Emperor William is responsible 10
the attitude Of Emperor Nicholas an
, everything Is traced back 20 the meetin
, OF the two emperors on board the Hohen
zolern in the Finnish gulf. In support d
this II is positively stated that after IN
interview NJ. Whites Instructions were mad
stronger and more unyielding.
Authoritative RussiHn Statement.
n The following authoritative statemeT
has been made 10 the Associated Pres
explaining the Russian position with n