New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-01
RAPID WORK ON TREATY
Japan WithdrezC One Demand Be-
fore Enjoys First Met.

Portsmouth. N. H. Aug. 31.-Japan. through
Baron Komura. has agreed to the immediate
conclusion of arnistice. At IL o'clock to-
night Mr. Takahira went to Baron Rosen's room
and explained that he and Baron Komura had
received instructions to arrange terms OF an
armistice. Baron Rosen immediately coulnnu-
ncated with NJ. Witte. and 1t is probable that
a meeting will be held tomorrow morning for
the proclamation of a complete suspension OF
hostilities preliminary TO the arrangement OF
the details by the two generals on the battle
field.
Rapid progress has been made to-day In the
drafting of the treaty of peaos- Baron Konura.
at NJ Whites request, will probably tomorrow
fix day for its signature Russia's consent to
a suspension of hostiities reached NJ. Witte to-
night In a cable dispatch from Count Lamsdorn.
whom Emperor Nicholas has empowered to deal
with this important part OF the negotiations
General I4inevitch has been informed Of
tie practical conclusion of peace and directed
to hold himself in readiness TO open with Field
Marshal Oyama the negotiations for an arnis-
tice. The order for the suspension of hostE-ties
and the signing of the truce has waited only
until NJ witte had been informed by Baron
Komura that the Emperor of Japan had also
given his consent and had empowered Nsa sfat
Oyasna TO conduct the negottat tnns VT; tpes
Russian comn1anfer in the field a4xtns AZ q
vised General Linevitch of the situaticn. K-ssia'
will not hold herself responsible for any clash
occurring before Japan consented to an arrnlstice-
So rapidly and well is NJ de Martens. with
Mr. Dennison performing his delicate ard i'm
portant task of drafting the treaty that ne
was able on his return from the navy yard to-
night to report to Nj. Witte the practical COM
pletion of ten articles of the treaty 1t is ex-
pected the treaty will IN its entirety consist OF
fifteen articles exclusive of the preamble
Japan's original demands said to have
numbered thirteen. Only twelve. however, were
presented to the Russians, as President Roose-
veIt is credited with persuading the JaDaness
rIenipotentiaries before the convening of the
conference to withdraw one of the conditions.
which he regarded as unjust. Whether tnis
thirteenth demand dealt with the Notifications
at vladivostok cannot be learned Having
waived three of the demands presented-the in
deunitv the interned ships and the limitation
of Russian naval strength in the Ear East
the Japanese final conditions were nine. Several
of these however, will be divided in the treaty
and grouped into two or more articles
NJ Witte is exceedingly anxious to SAN for
bon,. on Sentember II In the time hs
wishes to take leave of President Roosevelt and
nrsonally present the thanks Of his Emperor for
the Presidents assistance. He II, therefore.
doing what he can to hasten the drafting OF
the treaty which he would probably be pre-
pared to sign by Tuesday or Wednesday OF next
week. at the least. unless some obstacle snoulo
arise. The only difficulties which have thus Tar
appeared have been due to the ambiguous IAN
suage of certain parts OF the daily protocois
which form the framework OF the treaty.
The members of the Japanese mission do noc
see anything strange in the fact that no news
has been received from Japan giving the I'M
n under
the conditions agreed upon between the pleni-
potentiaries One of the most influential MEM
bers of the mission said to-day that he would not
be surprised if the exact conditions OF peace
were not known by the great majority OF the
Japanese public. as the government very likely
desired that the Official announcement snould
be made only after the Emperor had ratified tbs
agreement concluded at Portsmouth