New-York tribune., 1905-08-11
INDEMNITY" NOT asked.
Japan's Chief Demands Said To Be
Unacceptable to Russia.
lRv IN. Assee,a,st rre-sl

by the Associated rrezsl
Portsmouth. n, H. Aug. 1e-Reim bursernens
for the expenses sustained in the prosecution OF
the war and the cessOn Of the island OF
Saghalien are believed here 70 constitute the
main features of the peace terms handed by
Baron Komura TO NJ. witte AZ the close OF the
morning session OF the plenipotentIaries to-day.
The word Indemnity is carefully avoided the
term employed being reimbursement" for the
cost Of the war No sum is fixed. the amount
being left for mutual adjustment between the
two countries after the japanese expenditure
has been ascertafned
These are understood 70 be the two all i'm
portant conditions and those which the Rus
sian plenpotentiaries find absolutely unaccept-
able Unacceptable as they arr. however. 1t can
be stated that these two principal conditions did
not come as a surprise 70 the Russian plenpo-
tentiaries The friendly fashion in which Baron
Komura explained the conditions before handing
them to NJ Witte and the avoidance of the use
OF the word Indemnity in the presentation OF
Japan's bill for the cost of the war without FIX
ing sum leave the way open for negotiation
and the ground for hope that final agree
melt is possible. Certainly the danger OF a
sudden rupture. no matter what the ultimate
result may be. is prscluded by to-day's develop
ments
The other terms are substantially what the
could probably be entertained bases Of ne
gotiation. They include enc following;
TIE cession OF the Russian lssses to tre Lao
tung peninsula comprising Port Arthur and
Dalny.
The evacuation of the entire province Of Man
, churia. the retrocession 10 China OF any priv
feges Russia may have in the province. aud the
recognition by Russia of she principle OF the
C.en Door.
The cession TO Japan of the Chinese Eastern
Railroad below Harbin. the main line through
Northern Manchuria to vladivostok to remain
Russian property.
The recognition of the japanese protsctorate
over Corea-
The grant Of fishing rights to japan in the
waters of the Siberian Httoral north Nard from
Vladivostok to Behring Sea
The reIinquishment to Japan Of the Russian
warships interned in neutral ports.
Finally a limitation the naval strength
of Russia in Far Eastern waters.
REGARDED BY RUSSIANS AS HARD.
As whole. the terms are regarded as exceed
ingly hard by the Russians In addition 10 the
two principal conditions which cannot be ac-
cepted under NJ Witte's instructions. those re-
Iatins to the limiting OF Russa's naval power
In the Far East and the granting OF fishing
rights on the Russian Httoral are considered
particularly offensive and of such a hun1iliating
character as to be inadmissible.
The japanese. on the contrary, as Baron KO-
mura announced at the conference to-day, con-
slider them moderate. contending that :hey ONLY
represent a fair compensation for the expenses
of the war and the victories they have achieved
on land and sea. their sole purpose being 10 at
tain the objects for which they have fought. the
spoils claimed being only such as they Iegti-
nateIy entitled TO as a result Of their military
and naval successes.
The Russian plenipotentiaries soon as the
ia apanese terms were in their hands. called in
the five expert delegates attached TO the mis-
sion and spent the whole afternoon In consider
ing them In the mean time the conditions hal
been placed in cipher and Cabled 10 the Gar
with NJ Whites personal recommendations
II is hoped that reply viii be received from
the Gar tomorrow, in which NJ. Witts
expects 10 have the Russian response ready hy
SATURDAY, but it is not unlikely that. Saturday
being the first anniversary Of the birth or the
Czarevitch the presentation OF the reply will be
deferred until Monday. In the mean time the
plenipotentiaries viii not meet unless some IN
expected necessity for a conference should arise.
The Japanese pienipotentiaries do not msnifes1
the slightest annoyance al the prospect OF few
davs' delay They realize how serious the issue
is and are perfectly willing TO give ;heir Rus
sian colleagues ample time for consideration
NJ Wftte and Baron ROsen yesterday accepted an
invitation 10 dine with Assistant SsCretlry
Peirce tonight. and in spite Of their arduous
labors at the navy yard to-day, they kept the
engagement At O'Clock they returned 10 their
quarters in the hotel and resumed their work.
the lights in their rooms burning until lors aItes
midnight
Much exciterae2, prevailed about The Hotel
wentworth tonight, The corridors be.us
thronsed with summer guests and newspaper
correspondents all discussing and specu!atiEs
on the terms. while dozens OF telegraph instru-
ue-ts were clicking on dispatches TO all quar-
ters OF the globe. The Russian and JaPancsr
denied themselves 10 callers
md no statements were issued
II is learned that the initiative OF The decision
taken by the peace conference TO keep Ia ao-
soiute secrecy the deliberations agreed on BY
the plenfpotentiaries was proposed By the Jap
auese representatives. The Russian representa-
tiyes had no special interest IN maintaining
secrecy but as the conference is the reunion Or
two parties the Russians. thinking that they
had not the right Of opposing the desire OF the
Japanese. have consented 10 this proceeding
An agreement was reached to-day by which
the conference formally adjourned until