The Globe-republican., 1905-09-07
Trainers Of Treaty Expected 10 Finish
al Any Moment.
A BRIEF CONFERENCE is HELD,
BY M. Witte and Baron komura to
straighten Possible Hitch--Littie
Misunderstanding Regarding Neut
raIlzatIon Of sakhalln.

only possible hitch of the peace con-
ference, according to reports current
here, which, however, are not Officially
confirmed, arises out Of an evident
misunderstanding over the question
Of the naturalization Of the island OF
Sakhalins According to the Japanese,
the understanding reached on Tues
day contemplates mutual obligation
on the part of the two countries not
to fortify their respective possessions
on the island. At st. Petersburg, how
ever, there seems to have been an as
sumption that the agreemnt involved
freedom of action on the part OF
Russia in this respect in the north Of
Sakralin, with an obligation on the
part of Japan not to fortify or use for
strategetic purposes the portion
owned by her before 1876, which is to-
be retroceded In the present treaty.
It Is believed on both sides, however,
that the hitch, II 1t really exists as re-
ported, will shortly be Strengthened
out, and 1t is believed one of the sub
jects of tonight's conference related to
this point. /;
The effect Of the armistice conclud-
ed is that 1t becomes operative only
upon the signatures of the treaty by
the plenipotentiaries and continues
until the final exchange Of the ratifi.
cation Of the emperors Of the two
countries. 1t is for this reason that
the plenipotentiaries, who will them.
selves convey to their respective
capitals the momentous documents
which must receive the signatures Of
their respective emperors, are anxi-
GUS to leave at the earliest possible
date, foregoing the innumerable invi-
tations which have been showered up
on them.
AS result Of the reports made by
Mr.. De Martens and Mr.. Dennison to.
their respective chiefs, upon their
work at the navy yard, in the drafting
Of treaty Of peace, Mr.. Witte and
Baron K6mura had brief conference
in the formers apartments regarding
some details of translation and few
points Of Interpretation upon which
the trainers had been unable to-
reach complete accord. When Baron
Komura left Mr.. Dennison and Mr..
Adachi, he entered the apartment Of
Mr.. Witte, where they were joined by
Mr.. De Martens and Mr.. Plancon.
This conference lasted for about half
an hour, when the Japanese returned
to Baron Komuras apartments, leav1
ing Mr.. Witte and his conference, who
remained In conference for more than
an hour.
Mr.. Witte and Baron Komura had
no difficulty in coming to an agree
ment on the disputed points and at
tomorrows session the trainers of the
treaty expect to complete their work.
The treaty must then be engrossed
in French and English, in duplicate,
which may take several days. 1t is
stated tonight that twelve articles Of
the treaty have been completed and
agreed upon. 1t now seems probable
that the trainers will be able to con-
fine the treaty to fourteen articles in
stead of fifteen, as was the original
plan.
Mr.. Witte continues to receive mes.
sages Of congratulation from all over
the world. He reads each one Of them
and gives directions to his secretary
regarding the answers to be made.