The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-08-12
But Few Points Arc
 Accepted. MIR. wITTE PEssIMlsTIc
Japs Remain Silent, But Insist
 on Sakhalin Clause.
Diplomats of Csar Expect MikaA0su Commissioner to Have Answer Ready for Debate By Mon-
 asy-sparring Over.

Portsmouth, N H., Aug. 11.-Russia'e reply to the Japanese terms of peace will be delivered by Mir. Witte to Bar on Komura at s:30 o'clock tomorrow morning. The reply Is written, there being two texts, one in French, the other in Eng fish. Upon the two crucial points idem- nifty and the cession of the Island Of Sakhalin. the reply Is an absolute non- possimus Other points are accepted as bases for discussion, while still others are accepted conditionally. The reply is rather long. because in enum- erating conditions upon which discus sions are admitted and upon which consideration is declined. reasons and arguments are given. The Japanese plenipotentiaries are expected to ask for an immediate adjournment to ex- anime and prepare their reply.
 MT. witte will probably intimate that the Russian plenipotentiaries are to expect the Japanese to display as much expedition as they (the Rus sians) have shown in the preparation of their response. Monday, therefore. Is expected to be the day on which the real discussion will begin. Neith- CT side wants to indulge in diplomatic sparring. The time for fencing is over and less than week must decide whether a basis for peace is possible.
 The tactics of the Japanese are fl- scrutabie. They have shown through out the war their ability to guard their secrets. military, naval and diplomatic. and now not the remotest clue comes from behind their closed doors as to whether they are prepared to make substantial concessions. Silence and secrecy are their watchwords. But 1T the conditions as submitted constitute their last words. hope of peace may be regarded as having disappeared if the feeling reflected in Russian cir cles is a true criterion. And that no subsequent concessions on the main issues will be made is the belief both in Russian and Japanese circles Peasinsism Relgms Supreme. Tonight in the inner camps of both missions the deepest pessimism reigns- lMr. witte, # is positively known be- | lives the prospects of an agreement are so remote as to be practically nil He has no desire to prolong the agony and instead of fencing when the en- voys come together after the Japanese have had the opportunity to examine the reply there is a strong reason to believe he will not only welcome but will insist upon an immediate discus sion of all the proper bases. So pesst- mistic Is he that he has already been talking to his colleagues of his plans when the rupture comes. Before sailing for home he contemplates brief visit to Chicago.
 That the Japanese terms insofar as they touch the main points will not be withdrawn or materially modified Is the opinion of the most competent Japanese authority on the ground who will talk for publication, namely MT. JuIo Kumpei Matsumato, member Of the Japanese parliament. who Is here as a financial emissary of Japan and who is in close communication with Baron Komura and Mir. Takahira. The reasons he assigns are extremely in- teresting.
 "The conditions in their broad cut lines" said he to the Associated Press tonight. "have been substantially known to us in Japan and the Russians will be very much mistaken if they in1- aRine the Japanese will not insist upon the two chief points-the indemnity and the cession of Sakhalin. To surrender either is impossible. If Baron Komura should yield on these points public feeling would be so strong that nc would be murdered upon his return to Japan. We must reimbursed for the cost of the war and we have national claims on Sakhalin which we have new CT forgotten. About two hundred years ago the island was explored by Jap- anese, Juseo Konda, who occupied 1t In the name of Japan and called 1t Kaf- fauto. the name bestowed upon 1t by the Aboriginal Tho race who at that time also inhabited the island of Hokkatdo- Finally 1t was discovered by Russian captain who occupied 1t in the name Of Russia. Japan protested and long. desultory negotiation followed. But Japan then was weak. She had neither army nor navy nor internal organiga- tion. Indeed. the country was almost on the verge of revolution. Japan could not resist and the upshot was that Russia one day ended the contr0- versy by announcing that she would take Sakhalin and give Japan the Chishma (Kuriles) islands-which Ja- pan already owned.
 No Desire to Humiliate.
 Japan has no desire to humiltato Russia more than is necessary and sven now is seeking to avoid wounding Rus sia's susceptibilities but public opinion in Japan is absolutely So firm on the main issues that no Japanese states man could possibly dare to withdraw the terms which have been proposed as the basis of peace.
 "rhe Japanese Government has only asked what. according to Japanese ideas are considered most moderate terms. A strong party in Japan Ia vored claiming not only Sakhalir, the Liaotung peninsula, protectorate over Korea and the evacuation of Manchu- ria, but also the cession to Japan of the territory around the mouth of the Amur."
 The question of the credentials has been aniicably adjusted upon the assur- ance of the Japanese that the powers granted Komura were in the regular form always employed by Japan. NJ. witte will not pursue the matter fur ther. It Is believed that his object in presenting his note on the subject was that 1t might go Into the record of the conference to show that the widely pub lished intimations from Japanese sources before the conference that the powers granted him would not be full and ample were not only without foun- dation but that his powers were in fact greater than those bestowed upon Ba- ron Komura.
 One of the biggest features of the day at the Wentworth Hotel was the implication of the Japanese terms by the Associated Press, Efforts were made to discredit their authenticity. but neither the Japanese nor Russians would discuss the subject and before niehtfall all those interested became convinced of their accuracy. Both Mfr. II