Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-30
A VITAL CONTRIBUTION no
HISTORY.


Unul the appearance Of an article
by Melville 70. stone. general man
ager Of the Associated Press, IN the
current ISSUE Of the saturday Even
ing Post. there had been a lingering
belief in the minds OF most Of Ms that
Russia ended the WAR with Japan by
the payment Of an Indemnity run
ming into large figures, II was believed
that Count Whites declaration that
Russia would not pay one kopek was
bluff
Mr.. stone gives the inside Of the
peace conference at Portsmouth, as
he only could give It. because he was
vital part of II ni ibe most orueinl
moment
Count White came 10 the United
states on his pence mission reluctant
III he believed Japan had reached
The crest 81 her power, financially
and mllitarily. and that Russia, nj
ways slow, was soon 70 have her day
IN which the car would pluck back
from the mllsado the laurels wrested
at Llaounn. Port Arthur and Mukden.
Japan, through Count Komura, de-
mandod an indemnity Of SSQ0,O0o,O Oo.
There was an instant deadlock and,
on August &c. 1905. the ear sent
peremptory orders for Witte, and his
assIstant. Baron Rosen, TO quit the
conference on the following Tuesday.
Baron Kaneko, who was IN this
country AZ the personal representa-
tive Of Prince ITO, the dominant
Statesman Of japan. called up Mr..
stone and asked for n conference.
Mr.. atone pointed ont 10 the diplomat
that Russia would make no further
conversations, that Japan and that
country md reached agreement on
al points except that Of an Indemnity
and that the laps could net afford 70
stand before The world as making
war merely for money.
on al of those points Kaneko
agreed. How 70 bring about an under
standing Was then the question 70 be
aetfed. and there was little time in
which to settle a. President Hoose-
voit who had acted as Intermediary
N bringing about the Portsmouth
conference. was at oyster Bay. and
Mr.. stone called on him with the
suggestion that Emperor william be
asked to use his Influence With the
egar to continue the peace confer
ence until an understandings could be
reached.
a dispatch, dictated by Mr. stone
was written by President Roosevelt
ana cabled in cipher from the Ger
man embassy. Tho result Of Il All and
there Is much Of interest between the
beginning and the end may better be
told In Mr. stones own words
i made another visit to Roosevclt'
and after discussing the situation he
ana / agreed that ! should announce
through the Associated Press that
evenng that the Japanese had de-
tcrmined TO waive their claim for IN
aemnitv~-thia with view TO com
hitting them irreveehhly to the pledge
that .Kaneho had given Buseche and
myself
This dispatch was sent out. and
~ course reached Portsmouth Inc
ftantlN As 1t Was read to komura aud
Takahlra. they declined to say any
thing Witie aud Rosen thought Il a
ruse and went IN with their prepare
nus to quit the place the next day,
,,eir plaus were well laid. r. as they
n .ected. there should be any further
N sing for Indemnify on Tuesday
HNNSc was to leave the conference
IA az Al SO "a m. and in q casual
MY cali to ape of his secretaries me
4 SHOWING rusaln command. Pooh
/ Ne va moymy rousekymy papyros-
Sssmy Send for nay Russian cigar
4 apa
7 rThis was signal, the secretary
ld off for the task was 10 step TO a
sVAte telephone gSaaset4a@ with
cir headquarters AT the Wentworth
atei, In Portsmouth, repeat the
\ words 90 member Of the mission
y standing at the other end, and a single
code word, already agreed on. should
be Instantly cabied e. 81 Peteraburg.
sian capital the signal was Ia he
flashed to General Linievitch aud a
hattie of the centuries was 20 begin
A million men were TO participate,
Such was the plan and such the
expectation on Monday night
CON Tuesday morning the London
Times and the London Telegraph led
off ia their dispatches from Ports
mouth with the comments Of their re-
spcrtiye correspondents These were
George ~ sinaliey of tho Times, and
jar T.. i Dillon, Of the Tcleeraph,
'qhey spent their wrath ~ ridicul'
and denunciatlon 81 the Associated
Press. which had assumed 10 know
AL things and had inserted that tbs
Japanese we're about TO withdrav
thelr claim for indemnity such /
thing was Uncomfortable. There weals
So further negatlatioas, said they ans
heaven alone knew what would re-
1alt
ION Tuesday morning Roosevelt