Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-08-15
WITrE DECLARES JAPAN IN.
TENDS MAKING 1T A
PROVINCE.
HOPE FOR AGREEMENT

The Rupture That Was Expected Sat.
urday Failed to Develop and the
PIenIpotentiarIes Are Again In ses-
sion, Today, Discussing Terms Of
Possible Treaty.
Portsmouth. Aug. 14-The peace
plenipotentiaries began their session
today at $3.50 o'clock. The weather is
Ideal. cool and pleasant
The Future of Corea.
Discussion was resumed on the con-
ditions relating to the status of Corea,
Witte continuing to urge that the Ian
guage Of the clause should explicitly
show what he contended was the true
Japanese intention regarding the her.
NIT Kingdom, namely to make of it a
province of Japan.
The following official communica-
tion was issued at 1870 o'clock:
In the morning sitting the four
teenth august article first was dis
posed of and the plenipotentiaries pro-
ceeded with the discussion of article
two. The meeting adjourned at /
o'clock to be resumed at 8.
Article one, as agreed to by the
plenipotentiaries at the morning ses-
sion, was not in the language submit
ted by the Japanese. 1t had been
modified to nearer meet the wishes of
the Russian plenipotentiaries but to
what extent cannot be definitely
stated
AS expressed by Baron Komura and
Minister Takahira in their argument
Saturday Japan's attitude towards
Corea is Identical with the
note laid by the former before the Rus
sian government in the negotiations
preceding the war
Demands Free Hand In corea.
Among other things this note says !:
'sCorea is an important outpost in ia
pans line of defense, and consequently
Japan considers it's independence abso-
lutely essential to her own repose and
safety. Japan possesses paramount
political, as well as commercial and
Industrial, interests and influence to
Corea, which, having regard to her own
security she cannot consent to surrend
er to or share with any other power.
Russia must give recognition of the
exclusive right of Japan to give advice
and assistance in the interest of re-
form and good government in Corea
including necessary military assist
ance. Moreover, Japan desires an en-.
gagement on the part of Russia not to
impede the eventual extension of the
Corean railway into southern Man.
churia so as to connect with the east
China and Shankaikwan-Newch
lines"
Cars Position Modified BY Defeat.
Russia's position with respect tc
Cerea has been modified by japanese
victories. She was prepared before
the war and is prepared today tc
make a mutual agreement to respect
the independence and territorial in
tegrity of the Corean empire and tc
recognize Japan's preponderating in
terests and the right of that nation tc
give advice and assistance tending tc
the improvement of the administration
of the hermit kingdom and it's pro-ter
ritorial integrity
But Russia would like an engage
nnent on the part of Japan not to use
any part Of the territory of Corea fol
strategical purposes, nor to undertake
on the coasts of that country any
military works capable of menacins
the freedom of navigation in the
Straits of Corea. This is now beyond
the range of possibility and Russia de
stres that the proposition with regard
to Corea be stated clearly in the
agreement, if there is to be one
The reply of the Japanese to the
Russian communication was in such
temper and tone and form as to leave
the way open for further negotiations
The expected rupture did not come.
Good authority says this is wha
happened Saturday afternoon: Baro1
Komura handed to Count Witte
br1ef document traversing the Russian
demurrer accompanying it by the pa
clf1c and adroit and important sugges
ton that the plenipotentiaries pro
ceed at once, or as soon as the Rus
slans were ready to discussion O
the Russian demurrer and the whole
questions involved clause by clause
This was accepted by Count WHITE
and from 8 till $50 the discussion
continued
Hope for Peace.
The significance of this fortunat,
turn of events is very great. 1t in
dicates that both sides are at leas
anxious to go on with the negotiation.
provided. they can. by whiting ava,
the differences, reach common
ground. 1t denotes the pacific spiri
on both SIDES and possibly the spiri
of sincerity. 1t also means that botl
sides have been bluff1ng-that eacI
side is still engaged in trying out
his adversary If the japanese hac
not shown at least signs of willing
ness to abate their demands-if the,
had stood out ruthlessly for all o.