The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-27
PEACE TREATY
is SIGNED
Conference Of PlenipOtentiarieS
Comes to an End at Ports
mouth Navy Yard.
TEXT OF THE AGREEMENT

Simple Ceremonies Mark the Close OF
One OF tho Worlds Most Remarkable
Meetings - Cannons and Bells PoaI
Forth a Joyous saiute-Komura and
Rosen Make Short Speeches-ReligIous
Services of the Russians.
Portsmouth. n. Fl. - The war be-
tween Japan and Russia is ended. At
:1.47 o'clock in the afternoon the Treaty
Of Portsmouth, establishing peace
between the two empires. was signed
by the plenipotentiaries sent here by
the Gar and the Mikado. A moment
afterward a salute of nineteen guns
was fired at the United States Navy
Yard on Kittery Point, the church
bells in Portsmouth, New Castle and
kittery were rung, and flags were
hoisted everywhere.
Only six Americans were allowed to
witness the act which ended the great
war. These were Admiral Mead, Cap
iain Winslow, Captain Gibbons. Gov
ernor McLane, Mayor Marvin and AS
SiStant Secretary Of State Peirce.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Peirce.
the newspaper correspondents were
admitted to the navy yard. and for
two hours stood in the mud outside the
conference building in q mixed group
composed Of automobiles, bugSieS and
dock-yard labOrerS.
Both the Russian and Japanese mis-
sionS on their arrival at the navy yard
were received by Admiral Mead. while
two companies Of marines commanded
by Major Moses rendered military hon
orS and 1 band played.
On entering the building the Russian
and ia oanese plenipotentiaries retired
to their reSpecrve apartments, while
their secretaries went into a private
room to read over and finally compare
the French and English copies of the
treaty. This occupied half an hour,
while the six guests conversed with
the attaches and junior officials in the
conference room. At $40 o'clock the
secretaries went into the conference
room and said that the treaty was
ready for signature.
NJ. Korostovetz informed Baron Ko-
mura that all was ready. and Mr.. va
maza performed the same service for
the Russian ENJOYS. The plenipoten-
tiaries then entered the room and took
their seats. On the Russian side of
the table sat NJ. Witte. Baron Rosen,
Al. Pokotiloff, Commander Roussine
and A KoroStovetz. Baron homura
sat opposite NJ. Witte. The others on
the Japanese side Of the table were Mr..
Takahira, Mr.. Dennison, Mr.. Yamaza
and Mr.. Sato.
When all were seated the secretaries
brought in the four copies Of the peace
treaty and laid them upon the table.
The two French copies were placed IN
front Of NJ. Witte and Baron Rose;'
and the two English copies before Ear
on Komura and Mr.. Takahira.
At 3.47 o'clock the four ENJOYS signed
their names simultaneously to the
papers in front CT them, and then ex-
changed them for the others. Each
envoy had to sign his name four times.
VI. Witte was the only envoy who
signed two names, Serge Witte." The
others signed "komura." 'Takahira'
and "RoSen.'
Not word was said IN the room
when the treaty was being signed.
At $40 o'clock an official ran down
the steps from the conference room and
said to Captain Rowe of the marine
guard: Go ahead. Captain"
The officer ran to the corner o. the
building and waved Il red flag, which
was Immediately followed by the roar
Of the guns as they Numbered forth an
Ambassadors salute of nineteen guns.
This announced to Portsmouth and the
surrounding towns and villages that
the treaty had been signed. The salute
was followed by the ringing Of church
bells. the raising Of flags and the blow
ing of the whistles Of the towboatS and
steamers in the harbor.
In the meanwhile inside the confer
ence room, a remarkable scene was IN
progress Throwing his pen aside. Nj.
,Witte. without q word, reached across
the table and grasped Baron komura's
hand. His confrereS followed his eX-
ample. and the Russian and Japanese
delegates remained for q moment in
silence, their right hands tightly
clasped across the conference table
The war was orer-Russia and Japan
were once more friends.
There was nothing stacy about this
simple ceremony. 1t rang true, and
deeply impressed the attaches and sec
retaries of the two missions and the in
vited witnesses.
Baron Rosen was the first to break
the silence. Rising from his seat the
Ambassador, looking Baron komura
straight in the eye. said few words
which one had only to hear to know
that they came straight from his heart
Baron Komura replied that he shared
entirely the views of Baron RoSen.
PRESIDENT GETS NEWS.