Los Angeles herald., 1905-08-18
czAR MUST BE CONSULTED
Wltte's Instructions Are That He Must
Neither Agree to Pay compen-
sation Nor cede a Foot Of
Russian Soil
BY Associated Press.

dawn, and there is still hope. Predic-
tions of a final rupture tomorrow GER
tainly will not be justified unless Baron
Komura figuratively picks up his hat
and announces that it is useless to pro-
ceed further.
NJ. Wltte at least will not be precip-
itate. At tomorrow's session, after
article 2 (he limitation of Russia's
naval power in the far east), and arti-
Gle IL (fshing rights on the Russian
littoraD, are disposed of, he will favor
an adjournment until Monday to hear
the last word from st. Petersburg.
The pesslmism tonight is based on
the fact that no progress was made to-
day. The exchange of views at the
morning session on article (remuner-
alton for the cost of the war; showed at
once that the plenipotentiaries were as
far apart as the poles, and it was
passed over. Article 10 (the surrender
of the interned Russian warships) was
also passed, not, in the opinion of one
of the plenipotentiaries when the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent saw him to-
night because it COULD not have been
arranged, but because, within the shad-
ow of the two main points in dispute
hanging over the conference, both sides
were cautious and preferred to postpone
it to the end. Article Limitation of
sea power) Is also adjustable after
modification, and article IL will present
no difficulties. So that tonight the
situation was practically where it was
when NJ Witte last Saturday presented
the Russian reply with it's non-possu-
mus to articles and Indemnity and
Sakhalin).
Compromise the Only Hope
The only chance now is compromise
Russia to yield Sakhalin and Japan in
demnity Neither will yield both and
perhaps Japan at the final show of
hands will yield neither. M. Witte,
under the imperial instructions given
him before he left st. Petersburg, can
agree neither to pay war tribute nor
cede a foot of Russian soil. st. Peters
burg therefore in the last resort re-
mains to be heard from. Doubtless this
Is the reason why he favors a post
ponement tomorrow over Sunday.
Baron Komura probably will welcome
an adjournment of two days in order
that he also may lay the situation be-
fore his government before it's final de-
cision.
The sudden revival Of deep pessimism
tonight was induced by the dispatches
given out when the plenipotentiaries
returned to the hotel, that no progress
had been made today But to those on
the inside that was not surprising, and
the few words NJ. Witte said to the
foreign newspaper correspondents We're,
as usual, not encouraging. He looked
tired and declared nothing had been ac-
complished. Tomorrow" he said, will
finish articles IL and 12."
"Then we go to dinner" he replied
as he excused himself to go with As
sstant Secretary Peirce.
Japanese Not Buffers
No very great hope was vouchsafed
in the Japanese camp. I'VE are not
buffers" said Mr.. Sato, and from an
authoritative source the Associated
Press correspondent received a dis
tinctly bad impression regarding the
outlook. It was coupled, however, with
an expression of the hope that, If 1t
developed that the conference was go
ing to pieces, President Roosevelt might
again step in.
1--WE have heard that the president
having brought us together. has
washed his hands of further RESPONSE
blity. But he is resourceful. He
might do something" "What?" THAT
cannot say"
The Japanese view was explained.
1--WE came only asking what we
wanted. Our terms were moderate,
The world thinks so. It looks bad l
say so, 1 believe So, But the confer
ence may yet be saved from ship
wreck. M. Witte has been gracious.
He has done what he can but he has
future at home to consider.
A very important conference occur
red in M. Witte's rooms shortly be-
fore midnight. There were present
Baron de Rosen. NJ de Martens, GEN
eral Yermoleff, M. Pokotoliff, M. Ship
off and Captain Boussin, the Ave Rus
sian delegates. 1t is the first time a
full meeting OF the plenipotentiaries
had been held since the conference be-
gan. The preliminary discussion of
the Japanese conditions is already vir-
tually ended 1t is not improbable
that the final report and recommends
tions Of the Russian plenipotentiaries
were passed on and transmitted to-
night TO the emperor at Peterhof
II can be stated that the individual
views Of the members of the Russian