The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-31
INTEREST ENDED.
Summer Guests at Portsmouth
Leaving by Every Train.
ENJOYS Must Remain Until
Treaty Is Completed.
JAPAN IN THE DARK.
The Public Has Not Heard the
Terms Of Peace.
TrepOff Says Russia Never Could
Have Done Better.


fashion, the summer guests at the
Wentworth hotel, have assumed that
the peace negotiations are practically
ended and they are leaving by every
train. The envoys, however, realize
that there are many important details
yet to be directed and are remaining in
tlieir rooms, receiving and sending
cablegrams. Mr.. De Martens and Mr..
Denison are for the time the main
workmen. They are framing the
treaty. and calling to their assistance
from time to time those delegates
whose advice they need.
Up to noon neither the Russian nor
the japanese mission had received any
information regarding an armistice.
The conclusion of d formal armistice
is. however, not so important or urgent
as to create alarm if a day or two
elapses before it is proclaimed. AS d
matter of fact a tacit understanding
has existed ever since both countries
accepted President ROOseVelt's invita-
ton to send ENJOYS to Portsmouth,
that there should be no general en-
gagement until the result was known.
Both Oyama and Linevitch were or
dered not to give battle without direct
and specific instructions from their
home governments. Neither side de-
sired formal suspension of hostilities
before the meeting it would be sub
Ject to misconstruction. The peace
conference had no precedent in his
tory. Never before through the inter
mediary of a neutral power had war
ring countries met to talk of peace
where the one had suffered the defeats
refused to acknowledge it had been
vanquished and came not begging for
peace but with its head still aloft only
seeking it for its own sake. To have
followed the customary procedure of
arranging a formal truce before the
fhaTafnrn
Russia in the very attitude which she
disdained.
For the first time since his arrival
here Mr.. Witte this morning went out
for a walk which he said he felt very
much in need of having practically had
no exercise since he went aboard the
Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse at Cher
bourg. Although the weather was
disagreeable and rain threatened, he
said he greatly enjoyed his stroll.
When Mr.. Witte returned, Mr.. Plan
con submitted to him the work he
had prepared for this afternoons
meeting which like yesterdays will be
at 3 o'clock Mr.. De Martens, after
working continuously all the morning.
had practically drafted the whole
treaty according to the Russian inter-
pretation of the agreement. His dis
cussions with Mr.. Denison, the Jap
anese legal adviser, were chiefly on the
form and on the Interpretation to be
given to certain words in the French
text of the treaty.
Baron Rosen left the hotel in a
motor car this morning, supposedly for
Magnolia.
Japanese in the Dark.
Toxic Aug. S1.-The public continues
to be without information regarding the
agreement of the peace envoys at Ports
mouth. The terms of peace are not
known here. especially the conditions
concerning the island of Sakhalin and
the amount of reimbursement. Despite
the lack of information, many people
are convinced that the japanese govern
Tnent has made substantial concessions
and already are criticiZing and object
ing. Unless the terms prove to be bet
ter than were anticipated it is certain
that the compact will prove unpopular
and be bitterly assailed by the press and
by the diet. which is expected to meet
in special session shortly. The radical
elements are asserting that cabinet
changes are inevitable. The mass of
the public is not moved. There un-
queSuonably is a feeling of great relief
that hcstilities have ended and that the
men of the great army will return home,
be disbanded and reenter the walks of
peace.
All Right With Trepoff.
st. Petersburg, Aug. 31-"Personally
am at1Shed-thOroughly satisfied -
was the emphatic response of General
Trepof, when asked for his opinion OF
the peace conditions. The general who
with NJ. Witte is the man of the hour
the interior IS more thoroughly in touch
with the actual sentiment and situation
throughout the empire than any other
Russian, added, still speaking PERSONAL
~, that he considered Russia by the
terms of peace obtained all that she
could have attained by prolonging the
war. especially since without a fleet she
would be unable, no matter how victori-
Gus she might be on land to attack the
japanese at home or retake the island
of Sakhalin. 1t was obvious, he contin-
ued, that the Russian plenipotentiaries
had scored a diplomatic success and he
had no criticism of the terms in any
particular
Speaking of the effect of peace Oh
the internal situation General Trepoff
maintains that the conditions were by
no means serious or critical The
foreign press he said ''is mistaken in
supposing that there is a revolution in
Russia 1t is true that in Poland, the
Baltic provinces, and elsewhere there
nave been disorders and in court the
situation is serious. But there is no
revolution. The disorders are only
sporadic work of revolutionists who will
be satisfied with nothing but the over
throw of the state"
The return of the army from Nan
churia according to General Trepoff Of
fers no ground for apprehension
II VIII be necessary for a large part
of the army to remain permanently in
the far east and the home coming of
- the other part will be a matter of many
months
1T took year and half continued
the general, Ito get the present force
to Manchuria The trooDs will he
equally long in returning Naturally
peace made at this time when it was
believed in the army that they stood
on the eve of victory will cause bitter
ness for a moment, but this will wear
away under the pleasure of getting
home"
Passing to the subject of the national
assembly and the coming election Gen