The San Francisco call., 1905-08-31
LATE WAR
FOES MAY
Be ALLIES
Peculiar Feature
of the Peace
Agreement.
Favored Nation Clause
to Be Inserted in
the Treaty.
Suggests Division of Exclusive
Privileges in Manchuria
and Korea.
Special Dispatch to The Call

-FNo- A-1%oNS1 " Auc Odll
PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Aug. 3O.-"Is il
possible for Russia and Japan to form an
alliance so long as the new treaty lust
signed between Great Britain and Japan
is in force?" is a question which has been
much discussed here in view of the ac-
ton Of the ENJOYS in deciding to insert in
the treaty clause which shall extend to
both nations preferential treatment
known as the most favored nation
clause"
This is to stand until a fuller under
standing can be reached between Japan
and Russia in a commercial treaty, which
Is 10 be negotiated between them soon
after the dissolution of the present con-
ference.
Other nations are still apprehensive that
japan may form an alliance with Russia,
whereby the recent foes will have exclu-
sive privileges in Korea and Manchuria
and viii be able to hold trade to the dis
advantage of competing nations. Despite
the "open door" provisions, which are
understood to have been agreed on be-
tween Mr. de Witte and Baron Komura,
II would seem that the occasion is ripe
for some sort of understanding, and that
in one important particular il will be
necessary unless an international ar
rangement be made for the control of the
Eastern Chinese Railway. AS matters
NV GAdn0 Win IElGIcLIS 70 ltldl great
property, Russia and Japan will each own
a portion OF this road
Baron Rosen, speaking to-day OF future
relations between Russia and Japan,
voiced the thought that is undoubtedly
tOpmost in the Russian mind when he
said:
I'VE Of Russia fondly hope that the re-
lations between Japan and Russia may
become close, commercially and in every
.0fhpr To that o1d We q
boring since it is certain that we are TO
have peace"
AT WORK UPON THE TREATY.
Rhe actual work Of drafting the treaty
Of Portsmouth" was begun to-day. It is
being done by Mr.. de Martens and Mr..
Dennison. acting as legal advisers for the
respective sides. While the bases of
peace have been accepted by the pleni-
pOtentiaries, considerable detail remains
70 be worked out in the elaboration of
the articles of the treaty. This is espe-
cially true in regard to the articles deal
ing with the Chinese Eastern Railroad
and the surrender of the leases of the
Iiaotung Peninsula and Port Arthur and
Talienwan CDalnyl. Mr.. Pokotiloff, the
Russian Minister TO Peking, who was
formerly manager of the Russo-C Chinese
Bank at Peking and who has intimate
knowledge of all the details relating to
those matters. is assisting De Martens.
An anomalous situation exists as to the
Impression created by the conclusion of
peace While the outside world applauds.
IN Japan there is evidently great disap-
pointment over the terms, and In Rus
eia, where IL would seem that there
should be general rejoicing over the great
diplomatic victory Mr. de Witte has won,
the Government seems to have received II
coidly.
WAR PARTY is cHAGRNED.
With the people It will make Mr.. de
Witte q great and popular figure and add
20 his laurels. but at the court evidently
the victory that Mr.. de Witte has
achieved makes it all the. more bitterly
resented.
1t is an open secret that when the En-
peror appointed Mr.. de Witte chief pleni-
potentiary the military party expected
him TO fail It did not want peace. and
81 was freely predicted IN ST. Petersburg
when Mr.. de Witte left that he had been
given an impossible mission. His enemies
expected him 70 faii In the negotiations
or TO make a bad peace" and either
would have spelled political ruin. In
stead. upon the very terms upon which
The Emperor told Mr.. Meyer he would
make peace and upon which the military
party did not believe IL possible for peace
70 be negotiated, Mr.. de Witte succeeded
IL securing a treaty honorable, and, in
the circumstances, favorable to Russia.
This has only exasperared his enemies
the more, and intrigue is again at work
TO ciscredit him. Since Japan was in
conciliatory mood. they now say, he has
made a mistake in surrendering half of
Saghalien. Yet he did so by the Cars
orders and himself insists that, person
ally. ne would have adhered to his orig
inal declaration not TO cede territory or
give indemnity.
ENJOYS SEE NO DANGER.
In view Of the situation, both at To-
kio and at st. Petersburg. alarmists are
inclined TO make much Of the fact that
the minutes Of yesterdays fateful meet
ing have not been signed oy the plenipo-
tentiaries of the two powers. 1t is point
ed out that either side could still repu-
diate the agreement. but both plenipoten-
tiaries refuse TO admit even the possibility
OF such an eventualitv.
The following statement Of the Japan
csc argument which governed their de-
cision to waive the question of indemnity
can be accepted as authoritative:
Japan realized fully she was making a
sacrifice for peace, but she was looking
TO the future 1t was not a question of