Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-29
REDEMPTION PRICE OF NORTH
HALF OF sAKHALlN MAY BE
FIXED THAT WAY.
J,APAN's CONCESSION,
MIkado, Some Days Ago, Instructed
President Roosevelt to Notify the
Gar That Indemnity Would Be
WaIved-counclls in Session at
Peterhof and Toxic.

Waived-councils in Session at
Peterhof and Toxic.
Brussels, Aug. 2s.-The OPEN
Ing Of the interparIiamentary con-
aress In the national palace here
this morning was the occasion for
notable demonstration in behalf
Of President Roosevelt and the
success of the peace conference
at Portsmouth. A large delega-
tlon representing practically all
the leading pariaments was pres
ent.
Portsmouth, Aug. %. - The Asso-
tiated Preas has definite knowledge
that several days ago President Roose-
welt was authorized on behalf of Japan
to waive all claim for indemnity or re-
endorsement for the cost of the war
and to cede back to Russia the north
half of Sakhalin Island, leaving the
redemption price of the same to ar
bitratton by a mixed commission.
This statement was transmitted to
the Russian emperor through Ameri-
can Ambassador Meyer. The Asso-
ciated Press telegram announced that
the cars reply was partially respon-
sive.''
Not Fully Understood.
There is reason to believe that this
proposition on behalf of the Japanese
was not clearly understood at Peter
hoff and 1t was believed that the con-
ference held last evening between
~ 'Witte and Takahira was for the pur-
pose of clearing UP the situation. 1t
Is now not improbable that following
the precedent of Great Britain, Japan
will agree to settle the whole question
of the redemption price Of Sakhalin
as the Dogger Bank troubles were ad-
justed.
The Japanese contention is that
Sakhalin Island is de facto Japanese
territory and that Russia has no
means at her command for it's present
recovery.
Witte Won to Mikado's View.
It is understood that Witte has ac-
cepted this view in principle and ex-
..i-essed the judgment that Russia
should pay something in the nature of
redemption money. 1t is believed that
the Toxic council in session today is
considering this phase of the ques-
tion.
1t has been learned that the confer
ence between Witte and Takahira last
evening did not bear upon the ques-
tions of the cesson of Sakhalin or in
demnity.
Important Conference At Toxic.
Toxic, Aug. %. - (2:30 p. m.)-
The conference of the cabinet officers
and elder statesmen adjourned at
o'clock this afternoon and the partici-
pants proceeded to the place, where
the deliberations were continued un-
der the presidency of the emperor. 1t
is believed the decision will mean
either continuance of the war or
peace.
Japs Get Postponemcnt.
Minister Takahira, one of the Jap,
anese ENJOYS, knocked all the Rus.
sian plans into cooked hat at $50
o'clock last night by walking across
to the Russian quarter in the hotel
and blandly requesting of M. Witte a
postponement of the conference sched.
uied for o'clock this afternoon un-
til Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. Takahira was with M Witte for
thirty minutes. When he came out
Mr.. Takahira said: "I went to M
Witte tonight and proposed that the
conference meet Tuesday instead of
tomorrow. He consented This action
was taken because we thought that as
we had been brought here to discuss
terms of peace through the efforts OF
the President of the United States it
would be well to go slowly and eau
hously before final adjournment
Whether Japan will have any new pro
posals to make when we meet on
Tuesday l am not prepared to say
Qualities His Statement.
The minister paused for a moment
md then added the word yet" to that
sentence. He continued: 81 can say,
boweyer, that our reasons for asking
for postponement was entirely apart
from the question Of whether there
vill be any new proposals"
Pressed on this point Mr. Takahira
refused to go any farther. He was
asked: Have you heard that Russia
is willing to pay 10o,0OO,OO0 rubles for
the maintenance of the prisoners of
war?"
!. Il have not heard of such PROPOSE
Z tion;" the minister replied He then
continued: 1--WE are working out GER
tain ideas. We have been consistent
If there has been any change of pub
lie sentiment we believe it is only tenn
porary, something shifting from day
: to day and based on mere rumor We
have thought it better to say nothing
because the more intelligent class of
the American people understand that
our purpose is fixed and that we will
lhera to it. We believe the sAmeri-