Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-11

are now being eabled 70 St Petersburg and
VIII be Immediately transmitted to the en-
peror. NJ Witte personally will put into
cipher his own comment upon the char
acter OF the conditions and his views as TO
what action had best be taken While en-
gagged In this Important task he retired to
one OF the rooms set apart for the Rus
sian mission
only M. Korostovetz Of the Russian mis-
sion returned from the navy yard to the
wentworth for the purpose OF eommunicat-
ing to the press about this mornings meet
ing None of the japanese secretaries or
plenipotentaries have returned yet.
Ihe japanese peace ENJOYS left the naval
stores building at the navy yard in their
automobile shortly after O'Clock. indicat-
ing that the afternoon session OF the con-
! terence had been abandoned. The automo-
bile Of the Russian ENJOYS at this time was
waiting at the doors of the building. The
Russian minister to Peking was in consulta-
ton with the Russian plenipotentiaries at
the navy yard during the session today.
At 2:0 Mr.. Sato issued an officlal state
ment about this mornings meeting OF the
conference identical with that issued by
NJ. Korostovetz. The only difference was
the former was in English, the latter In
French.
Russian Replies to satO.
With regard to the frequent interviews
with Mr.. Sato and the other Japanese dele
gates which are appearing in the press a
prominent parsonage belonging to NJ
Whites suite made the following state
ment:
Throughout the war the Japanese have
the press to their side. They have pro
eeeded In fashion quite comprehensive
from their point OF view, but less so from
that of the public, which has swallowed
what they have pleased to furnish. OF
course the people of all countries, in Amer
lGa as well as In Russia, are readily suscep-
tlDle 70 a propaganda of Ideas no matter
how false they may be. For instance, the
papers of the last few days have contained
an interview with Mr.. Sato, in which he
says that Russia must pay war indemnity
because 1t is at the end OF its resources
and that the Russian representatives al
though making wry faces, will have to
pay even If the word indemnity Is not used.
IL Is not possible to suppose that Mr.. Sato
wilfully misstates facts and the most char
liable view is that he is badly Informed
He probably does not know that Russia in
az her history never paid a war indemnity.
She uld not even pay an indemnity to Ma
polean the Great when, in 1872 with his
army, he invaded Russia and entered Mos
COW. IL is therefore difficult to suppose
that Russia will pay an indemnity TO the
Japanese when the chief of the army Mar
shal Oyama, who, Notwithstanding the re-
SSpect due to him, is not Napolean the
Great: UP to the present after a year and
a half, not only has he not entered Moscow,
put has not even reached the real Russian
frontier Indeed in the last few months he
has remained near Gunshu Pass more than
TOO miles from that frontier not daring TO
attack General Llnevitch. Mr. Sato in his
ignorance, probably does not know that two
years after the entrance of Napolean into
Moscow the Russian army, in 1914 entered
Farls and dethroned the great warrior
! The Russian representative added that he
did not say this to minimize the military
oh fV,a. -. tI,z
cause in HIS opinion It is not clever to
magnify these successes and try to make
! mountain out Of a mole hill.
Witte May Modify Concessions.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 1O.-Dispatches
| received here from Portsmouth indicate
that Minister Pokotiloff's arrival has re-
suited in an important modification in M.
! Whites views. NJ. witte is now willing to
make terms with Japan, conditioned on the
] surrender Of the Chinese Eastern railway
between Harbin and Port Arthur, and to
satisfy any reasonable financial demand
provided Russia is permitted to retain
! Sakhalin. These terms have been commu-
nicated to Peterhof and are satisfactory to
the emperor
! Public sentiment In st. Petersburg shows
signs of changing to a pessimistic tone.
! Decisive news from Portsmouth Is awaited
most anxiously especially as rumors are
! In circulation that the, Japanese terms
are high and that the plenipotentiaries on
both sides will maintain firm attitude.
These rumors have brought out a
reiteration Of the opinion that Russia must
not under any circumstances accept "a
humilating or dishonorable peace or a
peace which would materially weaken its
position in the far east. The knowledge
that national assembly win be promul-
! gated next Saturday is being used a basis
for the argument that the resultant i'm
provcment in the international situation will
place the country in much better position
/ to conflnnA the WAT