The Brandon news., 1905-08-17
SLAYS REJECT
PEACE TERMS.
FIRM BUT COURTEOUS REFUSAL
OF MAIN POINTS.
AND SAKHALN
Unless Japs Modify Their Conditions
the Portsmouth Peace Conference
Will Result In a Failure-Both
Sides are Firm.

Portsmouth, N. H.-The Russian
reply 10 the japanese by M. Witte to
Baron Komura. It was already well
understood that M. Whites reply up
on the two main points was a firm
but courteous refusal. The Russians
had made no eoncealment. Of that.
Such intimations as came from their
headquarters breathed spirit Of i'm
placable resolution TO adhere to the
refusal. Indeed there were open in
tlmations that unless the japanese
modified their position upon those
points the attempt TO negotiate peace
must result in, failure and predictions
were freely made among the Russian
correspondents that this week would
see the end.
AT the same time there was a pop
ular impression about the hotel that
NJ. Witte was "bluffinG' On the
other side a similar but even more
impressive attitude Of determination
was observed. They seem sure CT
their position and their strength. The
japanese acted as if their minds were
made up. They would discuss but
yield nothing on the main points.
There seems good warrant for the
statement that two of the minor con-
ditions were included for the parpose
of bargaining, but that the others in
substance might stand. In this con-
dition Of affairs there must be sur
render ON one side or the other or the
war will go on. There may be a
chance of peace, but it is based en-
tifely upon a sudden change of the
urlcoqnprising attitude of one side rr
the other. Predictions are heard that
if break comes, President Roosevelt
VIII again step into the breach
M. Witte, is believed to have prac-
tically outlined the reply in present
ing 1t, SO that when Baron Komura
made his announcement he knew the
substance Of the Russian answer. The
Russian reply to the Japanese terms
delivered by N. Witte' TO Baron Kom-
ura, Upon the two points indemnity
and oession of Sakhalin-it declines
10 admit discussion. Others it ae-
cepts and still others it acepats con-
ditionally. It is long, taking up the
conditions seriatim and setting forth
the reasons and arguments for the
decision reached in each case. The
argument against the payment of an
indemnity or the cesfon of territory
Is based on general theory that Rus
sia rs till prepared to continue the
struggle and has ought this meeting,
not as a vanQuished country begging
for terms, but because she sincerely
desired peace If honorable peace is
possible, therefore she could neither
agree to foot Japan's bill for war ex-
penses nor eede territory.
The argument can be. fairly stated
as follows:
Russia rs not vanquished. She has
suffered reverses but she is not
obliged 10 accept peace at any cost.
She desires peace, as she always has,
even before Japan opened hostilities.
That Russia did not court or want
war was evident by the fact that she
was not prepared for 1t, either in a
military, naval or administrative
sense Russia could possibly be prop
eriy accused of only one thing-of
having g7ven the excuse which Japan
was seeking and for which Japan had
been preparing for ten years to make
war upon here. The responsibility
for the war therefore falls upon Ja-
pan and not upon Russia.
It oan be saad, however, that al
though firm on the main points, M.
Wlste g reply is exceedingly courteous
in form and tone and leaves the way
open TO discussion and negotiation e
r.