The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-09-07
TREATY NEARLY
READY TO SIGN
Work of Engrossing the Document
Now Under Way.
ARMIES TO BE WITHDRAWN

Portsmouth, N H., Sept. 4.-The
"Treaty of Portsmouth" has been com.
pleted and is now being engrossed in
French and English and will probably
be signed today or tomorrow. 1t con
sists OF II articles, preceded by q short
preamble.
The articles relating to the non-for
tification of the island of Sakhalin
and La Perouse Straits, and the evac
uation of Manchuria were settled
Both parties bind themselves not to
fortify the island. La Perouse Is to
be open" and Japan agrees not to
erect works to command the strait.
The article relating to the evacua'
ton of Manchuria provides that the
troops, Immediately upon the exchange
| of final ratificatiOns, are to be with
| drawn respectively to the lines OF
Mukden and Harbin. The number OF
railroad guards" in ordinary times is
| limited. but provision is made for the
dispatch of troops for the protection
| of the line in case of disorders upon
| condition that they are Immediately
| withdrawn when their mission Is FIN,
| ished.
The aiarmist stories that have gone
| out are pure moonshine. The peace
| of Portsmouth will be an accomplished
fact. There can and will be no per
manent disagreements. Details are
! being settled and details are impor
tant but no detail is important enough
| to cause a rupture. 1t Is not deemed
| possible here that there can be
break, although some of the Russians
and some of the Japanese shake the1l
| heads and say a treaty lis not signed
until it is signed
The Russians and the Japanese are
both seeking for every advantage. Inc
nervousness over the outcome Is not
real. however, neither Russians nol
Japanese can afford to break now, AM
neither will.
The Observation-Disclosures and the at
taches of the two missions seem to be
fuIly as anxious for the curtain to
ring down on the final act of the
drama as the little colony of newspa
per CORES spondents and summer guests
| who are waiting to be lin at the
death" The work of engrossing the
treaty has already begun. Mr.. RoJest
vensky doing the caligraphic work OF
| the French and Mr.. Adashl OF the
English text Controversies over the
phraseology still continue, and there
were several conferences between Mr.
De Martens and Mr. DennisOn, differ
ences being referred for adjustment tc
the principals. The Japanese are prov
ing great sticklers for words. They
cling tenaciously to their ideas. Care
ful preparation and methods have
| been the secret of their successes on
land and sea. and in their diplomatic
struggles at Portsmouth the same
qualities have been displayed.
In the sittings of the conference
Baron Komura always stated the Jap
anese position upon a given point
briefly, but with great care, and Wher
Mr. Witte, whose method was entirely
different, would try to draw out ex
plantations, he would stick dOggedly tt
the statement he had made. Mr.. W1tte
a man of affairs, resourceful and tai
ented as he is admitted to be, had hi!
case in his head. He never brought
any papers with him. He met every
thing which came up in an on-hant
way. weighing it instantly in his mind
analyzing it, arguing the logic pro ant
con. and stating his view quite bluntly
never asking for time to consider.
Baron KOmura, on the other hand
could with the greatest difficulty b'
induced to enter into the region of ar
eument. He stuck to the brief before
him. Speaking always quite slowly
he would repeat over and over agal'
what he had stated. as If he had learn
ed his lesson by rOte. Several times
Mr.. Witte would say: "Yes, l under
stand perfectly what you say, bn
what do you mean. what is your rea
/ obiect?" Then Baron Komura woult
go back and restate his proposition
almost exactly as he had done Orig1
nallv. Both systems had their advan
tages. BY insisting. insisting. insist
ing. Baron komura would sometime
catch Mr.. Witte off his guard and pro
woke him into statements which wer
| always eagerly seized upon. AS fina
1 resort Baron KOmura was alway
ready with written solution of
eNN
denly SAYING: This is what We pre-
pose. What have you got to oher!
Then the value of preparation an
foresightedness was apparent MI
Witte seldom had a crystallized cOuT
ter proposition to make. But on tn
). other hand, whenever Mr.. Witte SUI
= ceeded in leading his adversary int
the realm of argumnet where previou
nreDaratiOn availed nothing, he ha
Baron Komura at a disadvantage. On
of those present likened Baron kt
mura to a horse in "blinders"-as Ion
as he was on the beaten road. wit
his work cut out ahead OF him. he &c
o along swimmingly. but the instant
was off the road into the woods wit
the cylinders" removed, he appeare
10 he confused and lost and hastehe
back as speedily as possible to tn
road he had mentally travefsed
often and with every foot OF which
was familiar.
While a full synopsis OF the treat
will be cabled to the governments
Z. the two countries, the actual text WI
not be known at Toxic or st. Peter
\ burg until the plenipotentiaries arriv
Mr.. Witte will perso nally convey tn
text to st. Petersburg and Baron Il
mura to Toxic. This is the real reaso
why both are anxious to get home
soon as possible, as the treaty do
/ not go into force until the two 81
perors have signed. To avoid the dell
of exchange of documents, whl'
would involve six weeks at least, OF
cial notification of the final approx
~, ~ or,narore will he made thrOui