Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-16
Also Surrender Of Lao
Tung Peninsula Leases.
Indemnity, Sakha|in Island and
Railway CeSSion Still on List.

Portsmouth. ~ H., Aug. 15.-The
crisis in the peace negotiations
upon which the eyes of the world are
fastener is approaching rapidly and the
end of this week of the first of next at
the latest should witness the deadlock
and the end il the conference is to %
TO pieces. Two more Of the twelve ar
ticles, No and g. We're disposed of, to-
day.
Article consists of mutual pledges to
observe the integrity CT China and
the policy of the open GOOr" for the
commerce Of all nations and Article 8
covers the surrender If the Russian
leases to the Lao Tung peninsula,
Port Arthur, Dalny and the Blonde and
Elliott Islands.
To Article both parties gave ready
assent ana the official statement of the
adoption Of that article took care 20
state that it WAS agreed to "unanl-
mously."
Article ). the consideration Of which
was postponed until later, provides for
the cession of the Island of Sakhalin.
Discussion appearing useless at this
stage on accnunt of the firm negative
given in TIL" Russian reply, it was de-
,idcd upon the motion of the japanese
10 defer its discussion, thus revealing
the Japanese intention of postp"ning 20
the ma the life and death struggle.
This is the usual procedure followed
in diplomatic negotiations, enabling the
ncgntiitors To come to an accord upol
all possible points before tackling the
crucial issues and the fact that th'
Russians acuucSced in the proposition
shows that they. too, ar" as careful anC
anxious AZ are the Japancs" that th'
WORLD Siuuld not accuse them of be
Ing responsible for prcCipitating TIN
break. if a break is to he. and wreck
ing the conference.
This III itself is Il hopeful sign. BE
sides 10y postponing the burning ques
tiuHS to the end. the mOmon
for bargain and compromise arrives
Thru mrriedly the last trump card
ana the game is done.
Aud there is growing hope of com
promise. To the closest observers TIL
final solution begins to CrystaliZe quit
naturally the Russians Yielding tn
Ccssiun of Sakhalin. Japan forcgoin!
the cost rf the war" hut taking com
pruSation in the money to be REFUNDED
to Japan by China on account Of TIN
transfer to her of tn" Chinese Eastern
Railroad which Russia contends be
longs to = private corporation. there
fore urcorfiScahl" by Japan. the Rus
san property in Port Arthur and Daln!
and remuneration for the maintenance
Of the loo 900 Russian prisoners in Jap
an.
According to the Russian view, Jap
an has already secured all and more
than she dreamed oc claiming befor'
the var. To insist upon a foe who ha
still half Il million m"n confronting he
in tn" field footing the bill for the cos
Of the war rs the price Of peace would
the Russians say. change the characte
of the military struggle henCefortl
from one for certain principles to on
for the cNaCtion of blood money"
All questions relating to Corea am
Chinese Eastern Railroad and the mali
Siberian line running through North
ern Manchuria from the station MAN
Churil'' on the Amur via Hardin t,
Niadivostok are settled in the five ar
ucles already adopted. Some confusion
has ;:r .rn about these articles and tn,
following resume can be accepted a.
absolutely accurate:
Onc-Recognition of Japan's "pre
poudcrating influence" in Corea, etc.