THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 5

THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS.

PEASE rnUorbU © UlgArrtAK llik COUNT LAMBDORFPS OFFICIAL STATEMENT. M INDEMNITY ' NO ftFQQIfIN fly Telegraph.-Press Association Copyright. (Received August -5, 0.57 p.m.) London, August 25. Reuter's correspondent at Portsmouth • reports that the American Ambassador at, St. Petersburg has had a long audience of the Tsar, in pursuance of full instructions from President Roosevelt. Mr. Meyer reported at great length to Mr. Roosevelt the result of his audience with the Tsar. Yesterday (Thursday) President Roosevelt made an urgent appeal to both sides to refer the price at which Russia should retain half of Saghalien Island to special commissioners. The, Russian Foreign Minister (Count Lamsdorff) saw the St., Petersburg correspondent of Renter yesterday, and authorised him to declare officially, and in the most formal manner, that Russia will pay Japan no contribution, diirecfc or indirect, nor make any cession whatever. (Received August 26, 1.8 a.m.) Washington, August 25. The Tsar informed the American Ambassador (Mr. Meyer) at their interview that concession on the indemnity question was impossible. The Japanese plenipotentiaries definitely affirm that the compromise, in which an indemnity of £120,000,000 was asked in return for half of Saghalien Island, was Japan's ultimatum. Upon one. of the Japanese plenipotentiaries reading Count Lamsdorff statement, he exclaimed, ".Then the sooner we get away the better. We have done all that was possible. The world will do us justice." (Received August 20, 1.8 a.m.) London, August 25. The Daily Mail's correspondent at Portsmouth says that impartial opinion there is that Russia is still playing her old bluffing game.

THE INDEMNITY QUESTION. St. Petersburg, August 24. The London Daily Telegraph says the Russians so far have insisted on an unconditional withdrawal of the demand for an indemnity. The payment of an indemnity, they say, would be an obstacle to the arranging of a permanent peace, inasmuch as it would provoke the resentment of the whole nation. Washington, August 24. Beyond saying that the proposal to divide Saghalien Island came originally from the Russians the Japanese plenipotentiaries refuse to discuss the statement issued by the Russian plenipotentiaries. RUSSIA'S FINANCIAL STRAITS. MAY LEVY ON MONASTERIES. London, August 24. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Times reports that the Russian Treasury is exhausted, and that if the war is to be continued resort must be had to a paper currency, or the Government must forcibly appropriate the wealth of the monasteries.

There r\re 503 monasteries and 325 nunneries in Russia, with 8578 monks and 8090 aspirants, and 10,082 nuns with 31,533 aspirants. The properly of Hie monasteries (including nunneries) has been estimated at £100,000,000. MR. ROOSEVELT'S INTERVENTION. AVERTED A RUPTURE. Washington, August 21. There is a consensus of opinion that Mr. Roosevelt's tactful intervention last week when the negotiations were at a crisis averted an immediate rupture. JAPANESE TRANSPORT SUNK. LOSS OF 127 LIVES. (Received August 2li, 0.51! a.m.) London, August 25. The Japanese transport Kinjmaru, with troops from the front, has collided with the British steamer Baralong in the Inland Sea. The transport sank in three minutes, and 127 troops were drowned. The Baralong has arrived at Kobe. The Baralong is a steamer of 2661 tons register, and left London for Yokohama on Juno 4, and called at Port Said on June 15. MILITARY TRAIN WRECKED. SEVENTY KILLED AND INJURED. St. Petersburg, August 24. It is reported from Irkutsk, in Siberia, that the coupling of a military train bound East broke when near there, and that in consequence the train was wrecked. Of the soldiers on board 22 were killed and 48 injured.