The San Francisco call., 1905-08-14

/ negotiations over SUNDAY. 4ney bpduo
exactly where they did last night. The
session Of the plenipotentiaries which
was to have been held this afternoon
was postponed by mutual consent, out
of reverence for the Holy Sabbath.
which is universally observed IN Russia
as a day of rest.
| The Russians had not been anxious
for a session to-day and this morning
the Japanese took the @ipitiative, and.
through the intermediary of Mr.. Peirce.
it was decided to postpone the sitting
until tomorrow morning. The situa-
| tiou, therefore, remains the same. 1t
would perhaps, not be too much to say
( that the general feeling is more hope
I ful, in spite of open predictions made
I by personages connected with both
sides of the negotiations that before
next Sunday the plenipotentiaries will
! have reached an impasse where a rup-
ture Will become Inevitable. This pes
simistic view is based upon the fact
that, so far as known. the two big
barriers TO an agreement-indemnity
and Saghalien-remain as high and in
surmountable as ever.
The real struggle is only postponed.
The main problems are no nearer solu-
tion than when the plenipotentiaries
met.
ONE BASIS FOR OPTIMISM.
The principal reason for optimism
! lies In the fact that, confronted with
the absolute refusal of the Russian re-
ply to admit the discussion of either
indemnity or the cession of the island
of Saghalien, the Japanese proposed to
take up the consideration of the con-.
ditions seriatim. From this it is as
sumed that the Japanese are prepared
to yield or have reason to believe way
will be found to overcome the objec-
tions of their adversaries when the
crucial test comes.
An intimation comes from high
source that very strong outside in
fuences are at work on both sides and
that for the moment the effort is to
gain time. The plan of having Russia
practically satisfy Japans claim of re-
endorsement for the cost of the war
by the purchase of the Japanese mill
tary evacuation of Saghalien continues
TO be advanced. Such a solution would
permit Russia TO say she had neither
paid indemnity nor eeded foot of ter
ritory.
The debate in yesterdays conference
over the first condition-the reeogni-
tion of Japan's "preponderating inau-
ence" over Korea, involving her right
10 control the administration of the
Hermit Kingdom, was the littoral for
strategic purposes, etc.-was of a re-
markable character. Indeed, the posi-
tion taken by NJ. de Witte was sensa-
tional in the extreme. His attitude re-.
veals plainly the Russian tactics. They
propose TO raise before the world the
specter of the yellow PERIL" Russia
claims that Japans present purpose is
10 get foothold on the Asiatic continent,
from which to extend her dominion.
DE WHITES SENSATIONAL SPEECH.
NJ. de Witte made no objection, but
he declared the words Tpreponderating
influence" did not adequately describe
what Japan proposed TO do, and he in
sisted that the language used should
show Japan's true purpose which, he
contended, was to make a Japanese;
province of Korea. His argument
might be summarized as follows:
Russia has no objection to. Japan
taking Korea, but you must avow it
plainly. If it is to be taken, 1T should
be taken officially, so that the world
VIII understand your purpose to take
possession of the persons OF the entire
administration of the kingdom, from
the Emperor down TO the smallest of
the people Korea will have no repre-
sentative abroad who can explain the
situation from the standpoint of the
Koreans All of which means that
Korea is to belong to Japan. So be it.
Russia will not object, but Japan should
avoW purpose which is against the
interests of Europe and America and
especially against the interests of the
United States, China and even of your
ally, England. II this is satisfactory
TO you and America, Russia raises no
protest. You propose to destroy every
vestige of the sovereignty of the EN-
peror Of Korea, but you desire to en-
ploy a formula which will conceal your
true purpose. The country which will
suffer most is America, which will un-
derstand il in about ten years, when
il is too late"
koMURA ANSWERS ADVERSARY.
To this argument Baron Komura dis
sented most vigorously, although in the
most friendly manner, contending that
japan only sought to secure for herself
in Korea the commercial and industrial
positions to which she was entitled and
to aid in it's civilization and develop
ment, as well as to protect the kingdom
from administrative anarchy.
The fact that the Korean question
should be the first to be discussed in
the peace conference is strangely fit
ting, as il was over Korea that the
long struggle between Russia and
Japan. which eliminated in the present
bloody war. began. After Japan was
forced out Of Port Arthur and Liaotung
in 1895, each became suspicious of the
intention of the others influence In
Korea, and, first In the Lebanon agree
ment or 1896 and later in the
Nissi- Rosen agreement of 1898,
they entered upon mutual obli-
cations. In the former Japan
secured the right to protect the i'm
perial family and to build the Seoul
Fusan telegraph and Russia to estab-
lish telegraph lines from Seoul to the
Russian frontier. In the latter, while
there were mutual obligations to pro-
tect the independence and territorial in
tegrity of Korea, Japan's industrial
and commercial position in Korea was
recognized. Ever since Korea has been
the bone of contention, japan has al
ways been suspicious of Russian en-
eroachment At last the continued oe-
cupation of Manchuria by Russia and
the Yalu lumber concessions induced
Japan to try to come TO a definite set
tlement with Russia in the negotia-
tions preceding the war. These proved
futile and in the japanese imperial re-
script declaring war the Emperor Of
Japan said: