THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1747, 30 August 1905, Page 21

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

THE PEACE CONFERENCE

NO SIGN OF AGREEMENT. WASHINGTON, August 22. Protocols setting .forth the views of Japan and Russia on the four disputed points are almost ready for presentation at the conference. Russia bases her objection to paying ai r indemnity upon —besides Professor do Marten’s contention—the argument that she has not acknowledged defeat, hut entered upon the conference owing to her love of peace and willingness to conclude peace on an honourable basis. It is aiuwjuaced at Portsmouth that President Roosevelt’s proposition to Baron von Rosen, one of the Russian plenipotentiaries, related to the question of arbitration. President Roosevelt’s suggestion regarding arbitration to Baron von Rosen, one of the Russian plenipotentiaries* resolved itself into a hint regarding the possibility of forming a commission of competent and disinterested men to examine the question of indemnity- But the proposal fell on deaf ears. M. Kaneko, the Japanese Minister at Washington, visited President Roosevelt. WASHINGTON, August .23. The. peace protocols are incomplete, and the conference has beeii postponed until to-day. It is understood the real reason for adjourning is that M. de Witte had not received final instructions. The St. Petersburg correspondent of “Bo Temps’* reports that a meeting of the Council of Empire, by a slight mawas in favour of peace, and ordered M. de Witte to make fresh proposals regarding indemnities, but “not to conclude an unfavourable peaoe, inasmuch as the army was assured of victory.** Reuter’s St. Petersburg correspondent reports that it is positively affirmed by the Russian Foreign Office, in reply to inquiries, that Russia will under no circumstances pay a large indemnity. / WASHINGTON, August 24. Ttie peaoe plenipotentiaries have signed portion of the protocols, and adjourned until Saturday. Baron Komura introduced a written compromise, which M. de Witte described as “an old enemy in a new uniform.” It is understood one hundred and twenty million sterling has been asked for the repurchase of half of Saghalien Island and to cover the cost of maintenance of prisoners of war. In these proposals the intention is to spare Russia’s susceptibilities. LONDON, August 21. Advices received from Tokio state that at a public meeting held there a resolution was passed opposing any modification of the Japanese peace terms, which, it was declared, were the irreducible minimum. LONDON, August 24. “Th* Times’ ” Portsmouth correspondent reports that the prospect of peace being arrived at has not improved. He declares that the payment cannot be made easier by disguising that it is to be used as purchase money for an island belonging to Russia. * The correspondent adds: —The latest instructions from St. Petersburg, which, however, are not final, are peremptory and most unyielding. __ The Japanese, on their side, use the word “Hopeless.” They do not expect a favourable answer, and have no new proposals. The Japanese are willing to forego the demand for the limitation of Russian naval power in the Far East and probably as regards the interned warships, provided that the Russians yield in reference to the question of payment of an indemnity and the possession of Saghalien Island. Reimbursement is more a question of amount than heretofore. It is supposed that a bargain may turn on the repossession of Saghalien Island in whole or part. LONDON, August 25. Reuter’s correspondent at Portsmouth (TJ.S.A.) reports that Mr Mever, American Ambassador to Russia, acting in pursuance of detailed instructions from President Roosevelt, had a long audi-. ence of the Czar. In dis» ussing the indemnity question, the Czar informed Mr Meyer that a concession was impossible. After Mr Meyer reported at considerable length the result of the audience, Mr Roosevelt made an urgent appeal to both sides to refer the price of Rus*sia’s retention of half of Saghalien Island. Beyond saying that the proposal to divide Saghalien (by Russia repurchasing half the island) came originally from the Russians, the Japanese envoys refuse to discuss the Russian statement. The Japanese plenipotentiaries definitely affirm that the suggested compromise concerning Saghalien was Japan’s ultimatum. The consensus of opinion is that tactful intervention by President Roosevelt averted an immediate rupture of the negotiations. Count Lamsdorff, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, authorised Reuter’s St.

Petersburg correspondent on Thursday •to. declare officially, and in the most formal manner, that Russia will pay Japan no contribution, direct or indirect, nor will she make any cession whatever. ... One of the Japanese plenipotentiaries remarked, on readin gthis statement: — “ Then the sooner we get away the better. We have done all that is possible. The world wall do us justice.” The 11 Daily Telegraph ” says The Russians so far insist on unconditional withdrawal of the demand for an indemnity, which is described a 6 an obstacle to permanent peace, inasmuch as it would provoke the resentment of the whole nation. The Portsmouth correspondent of the “Daily Mail ” says impartial opinion is that Russia is still playing her old “ bluffing ” game. RUSSIA’S PROSPECTS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. LONDON, August 24. A high official on the Russian General Staff declares that Russia has nothing to lose and everything to gain by another big battle, as the army was never so good as now. A DEPLETED TREASURY. LONDON, August 24. The St. Petersburg correspondent of “The Times” reports that the Russian Treasury is exhausted, and the authorities must revert to a paper currency or forciblv appropriate the wealth of the monasteries if war is to be continued. RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THE ARMIES. LONDON, August 21. The military correspondent of “The Times” points out that the Russian forces in Manchuria are still confronted by armies nearly twice the Russian strength. General Linevitch reports the annihilation of a band of Chunchuses, including the leader, a man named Imbatto, and two Japanese in the Hailungcheng district on the 16th inst. Three Russian officers who escaped from the mainland report that a Russian force in the interior of Saghalien Island occupies an almost inaccessible position, and is supported in every -way by convicts. REPULSE OF A RUSSIAN ATTACK. LONDON, August 23. Four thousand Russian infantry and cavalry, with four guns, appeared at Szumiaotzu and opened fire on the Japanese. The attacking forces were repulsed, as also was another attack on the Japanese right wing. Eight German transports formerly attached to Admiral Rozhdestvensky s illfated fleet will shortly discharge 35,000 tons of coal, which will cost Russia, with commission and demurrage, £55 per ton. The Japanese have refloated the Russian destroyer Pilky, which was sunk at Port Arthur.