New-York tribune., 1905-08-22


Portsmouth. " T. arg. 21.-TEere is 70 rlit |
IN tbc dor, clouds which hang over the future
of the peace conference and at this writing
everything points to complete failure ana anai
adjournment at an early date.
The President has submitted no pTeFosi'loI
to the Russian ENJOYS, or through them to thelr
government The report that President RooSe-
welt had proposed that Russia and Japan sub
nit otherwise irreconcilable differences TO arbl-
tration NJ Witte to-day declared to be simply
idiotIc" The President had not. as lndleateoi
in these dispatches of last night, any plan OF
proposition in mind when he sent for Baron
Rosen He did not request Baron Rosen to sub
nit any proposition to the Czar or even request
the transmission of any proposal or suggestion
to NJ. Witte.
He did proffer his good offices. and expressed
the hope that, should the Russian plehlpoteh-
tiaries see any way in which his good oInc@S
could be made available, they would not fai.
TO inform him. In conversation with the Am
bassador the President made some purely in
formal suggestions. none of them, however
having to do with arbitration, and Baron Rosen
expressed the fear that these suggestions would
prove impracticable.
Yesterday the baron related his conversation
to NJ. Witte who shared the view Of his col
league that the suggestions were not pracd-
cable. NJ. Witte has received no recent instruc-
tions from the Car, and he expects none. He
regards as authentic the unofficial report OF
the meeting of the Council of State at Peterhof
which was described in these dispatches last
night, but, as was yesterday surmised. there Is
no occasion for Count Lamsdorf to communi-
cate to NJ. Witte decision of the Car and his
advisers not TO order that further concessions
be made to Japan, for the reason that the senior
Russian plenipotentiary some days ago COM
municated to his government his decision TO
concede nothing further.
Russia will concede nothing and the only de-
velopment which can save the conference from
early and total failure will be an almost astound-
ing modification of the Japanese demands oy
her ENJOYS in Portsmouth. In the absence Oh
| such a happening the session set for to-mor-
row afternoon will be devoted to revision or
the protocols aud the outlining of final report
| Adjournment will then be taken to permit or
the transcribing of the revised and the prepara-
tion of the final protocols; last session will be
held. at which signatures will be affixed and
exchanges made and the Portsmouth confer
ence will pass into labelled failure.
! 1t is barely possible that to-morrows session
NAV lie deferred until next day because all the
| protocols are not ready. but there will be no
material change in the programme here oat-
lined unless Japan does the entirely unexpected
Tho foregoing statements which are without
| eouivocation or reservation, arc made on the
highest possible Russian authOr.Ey
The word astounding is used to describe the
notifications which it will be necessary Tor
| Japan 10 make in order TO save the negotiations
from failrre with full appreciation of the
strength of that adjective. So far apart are
the Russian and Japanese plenipotentiaries that
there exists almost no opportunity for bargain
ing Japans demands have been for principles,
not specific terms. and Russia has rejected the
most important principles fatty and without
qualification.
Had the Russian plenipotentiaries. for In
stance accepted in principle the demand that
|
or had they objected TO an estimated cost as
too great. there would be ground for bargain
ing. Had Russia objected TO parting with
SacbaIien without some compensation. even
consented to purchase the island from Japan
the same would be equally true. But such is
not the case The Russian ENJOYS have met
Japan's demands on these points with an en-
phatic and unqualified negative, and they az
firm their determination to adhere TO this po
sition without the slightest deviation. For these
reasons. there can be no hope OF an agreement
unless Japan makes actually astounding modin
cations
In so far as Japan is concerned nothing new
cans be learned regarding the position OF hel
envoys. and any attempt TO define her position
necessitates reversion 10 the declaration of Min
lister Takahira that in her diplomacy japan
always means what she says, and 10 NJ. Sato'
reiterated assurance that Japan never bluffs-
The anxiety of Japan TO secure LASTING
peace" and the apparent conviction of hel
statesmen that this can be effected only ol
demonstrating 20 Russia the futilty of making
war upon the island kingdom. leave little grounC
for hone that her ENJOYS are prepared to maxi
any concessions so radical in their nature a.
even 10 approximate an agreement or pave th
way for treaty of peace From all appear
ances there is a hopeless diversity in the view
points of Russia and Japan, The former, basin;
her contention on the fact that no fighting ha
occurred OH Russian territory. other than tn