The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1905-08-23
MAY COMPROMISE:
FOR SACHALIEN
Report That Japan Agrees
to Split Island Saghalien
Russia to Repurchase
Possession
ROOSEVELT'S PROPOSITION

DEADLOCK MAY BE AVOIDED
AND DISCUSSION OF DISPUTED
POINTS CONTINUED HOPE OF
PEACE REVIVED.
PORTSMOUTH, August %, 1906
It is stated on the best authority today
that Baron Komura had agreed to offer
at to-day's peace conference President
Roosevelt's compromise proposition.
This. it is believed. will make it impos-
sible that final rupture can come today,
no matter what the character Of the
Cars final instructions to NJ. Witte are.
IF the negotiations can be prolonged
until next week" says this high author
ity so much pressure will be brought to
bear on the Gar that he viii not be able
to resist
The Presidents plan for breaking the
deadlock would ingeniously permit the
satisfaction of the japanese demands for
reimbursement for the cost of theAwar and
at the same time enable Russia to face
the world with the declaration that she
had not ceded a foot of territory or paid
kopeck of war tribute to the victor.
The solution consists in an agreement
by Russia to repurchase possession of
either all or half of the Island of Sag
hahen. now in the military occupation
of Japan, for sum, the amount on which
the two countries cannot agree, shall be
decided by some method of arbitration
hereafter to be determined. The purchase
money, together with the sum Japan
would obtain from the eession of the
Chinese Eastern Railroad and the main
tenance of the Russian prisoners in
.Japap, would, it is estimated, about equal
the amount claimed by Japan as her bill
for the cost of the war.
Practically, therefore, the solution of
fered by the President involves recession
by Japan upon Article 5, the cession of
Saghalien, and recession by Russia upon
Article 8, indemnity It seems practi-
cally certain. though this cannot be af-
frmed positively, that the President was
able to give NJ Witte substantial as
surance that Japan would be willing to
accept such compromise. This is ap-
parently, supported by the authoritative
japanese statement tonight in reply to a
question as to whether Japan had not de-
cided to make substantial concessions: -
ut all depends upon Russia"
1t would still be far too strong a state
ment to say that peace is in sight, but
that there is ground for hope is unques-
tionably true. Japan has evinced an en-
tirely unexpected spirit of conciliation.
and it is learned to-day that informal
exchanges which have occurred since the
adjournment have paved the way for an
extended discussion of the disputed
points. have, perhaps, even rendered it
| feasible for the plenipotentiaries to bar
gain.
What instructions the Russian ENJOYS
have received from st. Petersburg it is
impossible to ascertain, but it may be
stated on the highest authority that they,
too, have suddenly seeded from their
"unalterable determination to reject,
even in principle, the demand that they
defray the expenses of the war, and that
4 in their estimation it is chiefly question
Of Japan's moderation which stands in
the way Of peace.
a long cable dispatch from ST. Peters
burg, which is believed to be the Russian
reply, arrived about 10 o'clock and Mr..
Whites secretaries, Mr. Nabukoff and
Mr.. Plancon. Immediately began deci-
/ phering it. Considerable excitement was
apparent in the annex where the Russian
headquarters are located.
Sheet BY sheet the translation was
taken TO Mr. Witte's room.
| The rumor is. that it is a refusal-a
non possumus. a reiteration Of the Rus
sian position that she had given ample
proof of her desire for peace in the arti-
Giles already accepted and that more she
could not yield with dignity and honor