The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-15
MUST GIVE IN.
Japan Must Yield on the Question
of an Indemnity.
Or the War Will Go on Say the
Russians.
WILL BE OPEN DOOR.
First Three Articles of Peace
Are Agreed Upon.
Crisis Will Arrive When the
Fifth Is Reached.
WILL BE OPEN DOOR.

New York, Aug. 15.-The ST. Peters
burg correspondent of the Times says
an important parsonage told him yes
terday that if Japan did not abandon
her demand for an indemnity, the ne
gotiations at Portsmouthsw would bel bros
ken off this week Every preparation,
he said, had been made for a general
mobilization with a view to a supreme
effort in Manchuria in the present year
True the chances of victory were dubi-
Gus, but Russia would play her last card
before accepting dishonorable peace
conditions.
Crisis Still to Come.
Portsmouth, n. H, Aug. 15.-Although
very rapid progress was made with the
peace negotiations Monday, three of the
twelve articles which constitute the
Japanese conditions of peace having
been agreed to by NJ. White and Baron
Rosen on behalf of Russia, neither of
the two articles to which NJ. White in
his reply returned an absolute negative
was reached. The crisis, therefore, is
still to come. 1t may be reached today,
as the cession of Sakhalin comes fifth
in the list. The three articles as they
are officially designated in the brief
communications authorized to be given
to the press, which were disposed of, are
in substance as follows:
First-Russia's recognition of Japan's
''preponderating influence" and special
position in Korea, which Russia hence
forth agrees is outside of her sphere of
influence, Japan binding herself to rec
ognize the suzerainty of the reigning
family, but with the right to give adj
vice and assistance to improve the civil
administration of the empire.
Second-Mutual obligation to evacu-
ate Manchuria, each to surrender all
special privileges in that province, mu
tual obligation to respect the ''territor.
ial integrity of China and to maintain
the principle of equal opportunity for
the commerce and industry of all ma
tons in that province-"open door,
Third-The cession to China of the
Chinese Eastern railroad from Hardin
southwark.
There was never any question about
the acceptance on the part of NJ. White
of these articles the first two cover
ing in more emphatic form the conten-
lions of Japan in the diplomatic strug-
gle which preceded hostilities.
An Armistice Exists.
1t seems to be taken for granted
among the attaches of both the Jap
aneSe and Russian missions that there
will be no general battle in Manchuria
Oyama is known to be prepared to
strike the moment the negotiations fail
and there may be more or less Skin
miShing and outpost engagements
but it is admitted on each side that if
either Oyama or Linevitch should de-
liberately bring on a general engage
ment which might cost $4,000 or 1907
900 lives, his country would be ac-
cused of bad faith in the negotiations
here and would inevitably lose prestige
in the eyes of the world. In the larger
sense, therefore, it can be said that an
armiStice already exists in Manchuria.
Should the negotiations be vainly
prolonged and it became evident that
they were to be fruitless the advance
of Oyama or Linevitch might be the
signal for the final rupture. The unex-
pected attack on Port Arthur might
be repeated below Hardin.
A japanese Reconnaissance
Field Headquarters of Japanese
Army, in Manchuria, Aug. 49, via Flu
san, Aug. ia japanese reconnais-
sance in force along the line of the
railway on the Kikin road from the
! Chang Tun line drove in the Russian
| outposts. On Augusts12 eleven Rus
slams were killed and ten captured in
counter reconnaissance in the action
of Kinyiton. The Russians were driven
! back by the japanese outposts.
Oyama Shifts His Forces.
Gunshu, Aug. 15.-Field Marshal
Oyama apparently is changing his dis
positions and reducing his forces in
Manchuria to augment those in Korea.
where his front extends through Tsch-
| abootoun, Tschantafou. Schaketzy and
Manehentz, constituting an, Interrupted