Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-13
WHAT DOES ACTION INDICATED
Some Hold That It Means Private As.
surances to Baron. komura From M.
witte. Others That Japan is Ready
to Back Down From Her Fundamcn.
tai Demands.
tBy Associated press.)

PORTSMOUTH. N. H.. Aug. r.
There Is rift in the clouds The
prospects of a successful issue of the
washington conference" have bright
ened somewhat as a result OF today's
developments. Tie discussion of the
terms submitted by Japan has actual
ly begun. but this has been accomplish
ed by the postponement of considern-
ton of the two main issues. indem-
nifty and the cession of Sakhalin.
So far az ascertainnble, the Japanese
were responsible for the tactics by
which this hopeful stage was entered
upon.
AS :the mantle of secrecy has been
thrown around the proceedings by
mutual pledges no! to divulge what
happened within the council chamber
there are missing links in the chain
of evidence, and it Is impossible to
judge whether this signifies back
down on either side OH the main
points.
Both Sides Are UncompromIslne.
81 On; theyface, of things both sides ara
still as uncompromising as ever upon
the two issues, the struggle over them
being merely postponed. That some
sort of private understanding was ar
rived at by Baron Komura and NJ
Witte during the recess at the navy
yard today Is limited at. but there Is
not the slightest confirmation obtain
able. No evidence of n change of the
uncompromising attitude on the part
of M. Witte or Baron Rosen regarding
the main points is observable
Nevertheless, the Japanese who are
attached to the Nippon mission plain
ly manifest hesitation and some of
them privately assert that NJ. Witte
would never have consented to the
discussion of the terms had he not
been prepared to yield OH the qucs-
ton of Sakhalin.
Seriatlm Consideration Begins.
The. Russian reply. with it's non.
possumus as to indemnity and Sakha,
lin. had been presented in the morn.
ing. Yet in spite of this fact, at 8
o'clock the plenipotentiaries met and
after agreeing 10 discuss the condi-
tons seriatinl, entered upon the con
sideration Of the first of the Japanese
terms
The first condition was of secondary
dmportance-onc of those which Rus
STA had passed upon as condilionally
acceptable us basis of discussion
yet little progress was made. Four
hours were spent in debating 1t, but
no details of the discussion were re-
ported.
,3AS there, are twelve conditions, and
this one of minor importance, the out
look is still gloomy.
The ENJOYS ut o'clock adjourned
until tomorrow afternoon at o'clack.
The Japanese wanted to hold scs-
Sion in the morning. but nj. Wiltc
would not agree to this as 1t was
Sunday.
Yesterdays Sessions Friendly.
Both OF tOday's sessions are de-
seribed as friendly" but no details
are divulged. M. Wittc, however,
makes no concealment of the fact that
the rigid secrecy which the Japanese
insisted upon imposing upon the pro-
ceedings is distas.eful to him. With
much earncstness he spoke tonight
to the Associated Press correspondent
upon the subject. At the time he was
laboring under considerable excite
metit because of the published asse..
rion which had been called to his at
tention that he had pleaded for an
armstice. For the dignity Of Russia
and the pride of his country he askeG
that AN absolute denial should be civ
en- the report.
The Russian reply to the Japanese
d terms rs delivered by NJ. Witte to Baron
Komura was outlined in the Associated
Press dispatches last night
Upon the two points-indemnity and