Evening star., 1905-08-22
CRISIS AT PORTSMOUTH
NEITHER SIDE DISPOSED TOWARD
FURTHER CONCESSION.

The result of President Roosevelts efforts
70 save the peace conference from failure
remains in suspense. No direct reply to
the Presidents proposition, communicated
nv NJ Witte Sunday came to Portsmouth
from Emperor Nicholas last night, but
other advices received from St. Petersburg
Indicate that the emperor and his council
Iors are unshaken in their determination
neither to cede territory nor pay war trib-
utes.
What the President is doing on the Jap
anese side remains as deep mystery as
ever Little light Is shed upon the visits
of Baron Kaneko to Oyster Bay: The Jap
anese do not even admit that he Is their
medium of communication with the Presi-
dent They go further than to reiterate
that Mr.. Roosevelt understands their posi-
tion and that they have the fullest conf
dence in him. They show not the slightest
indication that they have in any wise
changed their position. or are prepared to
yield more than they were last Friday
when the penipotentiaries adjourned until
tomorrow.
japanese Offer No Hope.
Among the Japanese last night no note of
hope is sounded. With genuine reluctance
they seem almost resigned to the ship
wreck of the conference. They declare
that their position is unchanged, and they
speak of renewing the war with a snap of
their black eyes which speak volumes
for their confidence in the success of
Oyama when the word is given to advance
I'VE have fought for lasting peace.
said one of the attaches closest to, the
chiefs. I'VE have been victorious. If Rus
sia came TO Portsmouth unprepared to pay
the price of defeat all is over. We do not
believe that the President considers our
terms unreasonable. He knows Japan's po-
sitiCn as accurately as he does either of
the Japanese plenipotentiaries- We don't
believe he will even ask us to weaken at
the last moment and yield, even to save the
negotia tions. Heartily as the whole world
desires peace. Japan believes the neutral
powers prefer that war should continue for
a year. or even two years longer rather
than that Japan for the sake of immediate
peace should make concessions now and be
forced, perhaps a decade hence, to reopen
hoStiltieS,
Russians Equally Firm.
The following authoritative explanation
of the peace situation from the Russian
mission is given in an interview last night:
I'VE do not believe that there is any
probability of peace in the actual existing
situation. which is very strained. The
ditions of the Japanese are huminating to
Russia, which has made all the concessions
she make.
1T seems to us that the Japanese tried
TO drag thiags along. They come now ap-
parently with changes in the text of the
protocols which make it necessary to
write and may make 1t impossible to finish
the protocols before Tuesday.
We cannot say tonight that all hope is
lost. but this hope seems insignificant
that we consider ii lost.
Also we personally still consider peace
an absolute necessity for Russia, as we
have always done but greediness and OBJ
stinacy of the Japanese will compel a con-
tinuanCe of the war.
I'VE deny in the most formal way the
following three statements:
THAT President Roosevelt has proposed
arbitration.
That the Russian ENJOYS have received
any instructions other than those originally
received from St Petersburg.
That President Roosevelt has proposed
that the Russians shall buy Sakhalin
Island for the amount of the indemnity"
1t is further announced that the emperor
has sent personally 10 Mr.. Witte a telegram
from Gen. Linevitch, in which Lnevitch
asks that the war be continued.