THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7899, 15 August 1905, Page 3

THE PEACE CONFERENCE.

THE OUTLm MORE HOPEFUL. JAPAN'S TERMS ARE HARD. DEFEAT MAY REGENERATE RUSSIA. WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. M. de ,Witte delivered to Baron Komura a written reply, with an indication that he expected the Japanese plenipotentiaries to copy the Russian expedition in r.pljing. Baron Komura and his colleagues debated privately on the Russian re ply. Though M. de Wittc's reply has been framed wiih tlte intention of leaving the door open for discussion, the Russian diplomatists in tlic morning were threatening ,tl» likelihood of failure with the intention of aying the blame upon Japan, but the impressive reserve of the Japanese plenipotentiaries and the length of the afternoon deliberations rendered the outlook much more hopeful. PARIS, Aug. 13,

The French journal Le Temps says the Japanese terms are hard, but an ofler acceptable as a basis of peace must entail Russian sacrifices and a chafing of ber amour propre, but Russia's greatness will be undiminished it defeat teaches her methods of regeneration.

WHAT STARTLED THE CZIUL Expected Attack on the Baltic. Simndtr Saghilien Possible.Rissian Connter-Proposals. (Received Aug. 14, 9.31 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Aug. 13. The discussion oa the peace conditions seriatim, despite Russia's reply, was due to Baron Komura's ini- ■ tiative. His imperturbable tactics puzzled M. de Witte. The hitter's acceptance of the discussion is interpreted in Japanese circles to indicate that M. de Witte Would never have accepted it unless Russia was really prepared to yield Saghalien.

PARIS, Aug. 13. Le Temps' St. Petersburg correspondent says the fresh instructions cabled to M. de Witte serve as a basis lor counter-proposals. The Kcho de Paris learns that one of the determining causes of the interview between the Czar and the Kaiser was the reported prospect of the Japanese bombarding Russia's Baltic ports unless peace was signed.