The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-10
CREDENTIALS OF EACH 4.
MISSION SATISFACTORY.
Konura Much Embarrassed b
Failure to Bring Papcrs-Pr Pro-
grarnrne for Daily Sessions
Arranged Europe Closely i
Watching Events at
Portsmouth. 5s8
: rpy 4 ..oo, , . - & 81. , /,

PORTSMOUTH, N. IL, August a--Wlth
tho proba billty that Baron Komura Will
Tomorrow reveal ITO the Russian plent-6
potentlaries the terms upon which japan
ID willing to conclude peace. opinion as to
the outcome, among those who are con-
gregated here to watch the proceedings.
has become decidedly essirn istic. This 4
lis due to the growing conviction that
.Japans conditions will not prove as !.
moderate as we're at one time anticipated.
and, especially in the matter OF indenl-
nifty, may preclude tho possibility OF their
acceptance by the Russian envoys as
basis OF negotiation q .s}i3I IS.5 u 81 x s$t 35E
B Tho firm attitude OF M. Wltte In prt- e
vate conversation against the payment of q
an indemnify and the inslstent reports
emanating from Japanese quarters that
stit war contribution approxlmating 4
the cost Of the war. vari ously5 stated at y
from coo 10 800 millions. constitutes Sone Z
K OF pan 8 demands, indicates q wide. II 4
not an irreconcllable, difference Sbetween
I Japan's Sirreduclhle minimum and what
Russia Is prepared to acce pt Upon the
question or the payment of az large In
7det,1nity. the Sns tructions of} the Russian
bplenlpotentiaries are believed to admit
f{no concessions. although It, Is possible,
d certain compensation In kind # mi lght
! be arranged. For Instance. It is sug-E
gested that for3&the REIMBURSEMENT OF
tho island OF sakahllln now potentially In
Japan's hands, the possession Of (which
7 by Japan. would give her command of
tho whole Siberian llttoral. Russia could !
with 5propriety pay q large sum.
Gloomy forebodings, however, may be ~
premature at this juncture. as everything
Indicates the plenlpotentiarie upon both
sides are sincerely deslrous OF con cluding
a treaty Of peac sgfssIS Al
The First, Meeting.
The hrst meeting OF the penipoten-5
tiaries to-day was OF an entirely Informal Il
character. so Informal, in fact, that Barol,s
Komurn did not bring his letter OF cre-sf
dence to the Portsmouth Navy Yard. III
whereas M. Witte} was arm ed with the
original document In Russian. setting
forth the powers conferred upon him, and
also with translation OF tho document
The latter he road, Baron Komura was #
embarrassed and offered to send back II
to tho hotel for his commission, b4t NJ n .53
Witte has expressed his faith that the h
credentials were full and ample. andy n
was arranged that official exchang 60 o.
credentials should be made Tomorrow.
4 Later In the afternoon, however, copies
OF tho credentials were Informally ex-f
changed in order that they might be 4
examined before tho meeting to-mor-s8
row, It Is known that the credentials
gdiffer slightly. IN exactly what respect
could not be asoertatned to-night.l put &
tho Associated Prcss correspondent ls s.
assured, both by the Japanese and the
Russian emlssaries. that the difference \
IA not essential and constitutes no OBJ (
Sstncle to tho official opening OF the nos
spotiations. Indeed, the President was
officially Informed tonight that the cre-
dentials were full. ample and satislac-3#
tory to both sides
II was decided to-day to hold two
dnily sessions, one In the morning be- Y
ginning at $3.50, and one In the after.
noon. beginning at p. NJ. TO avoid
delay and give tho plenlpotentiaItes ana q
delegates time for consultation petWeen y
sessIons, It has been arranged that
luncheon will be served at the navy yard g
nnd tho ENJOYS upon leaving the'r5 GUAR.
tors iu the morning Will not return
nntil tho afternoon session adjourns.
Three secretaries for each side. Will ba
in attendance to draw up the protocols
of the meetings. which will be written In
both English and French. The French 81
text. however, in case of dispute, WnI
be accepted In evidence (faire toD. t
The officials versions OF to-day's meet
Ing, given out by each side. described It
as 'satsfactory," and other accounts in
dlcate that white everything passed on
played upon both sides, Baron Komura,
whom NJ. Witto had met In st, Petersburg
during the formers service as Japanesa
minister there, was pleasantly Ereeled
by the Russian chief envoy In French,
but tho baron was obliged IN shake his
head and turn to his secretary, MI,
Honda, who explained that Baron 10,
mura had forgotten the little French no
knew while In st, Petersburg
Japanese Very Reticent. ,
While the Russian plenipotentiaries ex,
pect tho Japanese to present the Japanese
terms Immediately upon the Official ex-
change OF credentials to-morrow, they ad- Z
nit they are In the dark Baron komura 5
and his olleagues decline 10 give any M 4.
timation of their course OF procedure.
Pursuing the tactics which they haye
constantly followed In all their diplomatic
and military operations, they are carefully
guarding all their plans resar1lng tha
present meeting,
There was some disposition to- day to
attribute Baron Komura's forsetfllness II
not bringing his credentials to the meetr
Ing n desire to spar for time. and for thar
r.oson Soma doubt was expressed wAetnek Z