Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1905-09-01
PEACE TERMS
Are SETTLED.
Japan Made Concessions at the Last
Moment and an Armistice
Will be Declared.
NO INDEMNITY is TO Be PAID.
Between the Two Powers and
the Japanese Demand for
lnterned Warshps Is
Withdrawn.

Portsmouth, N. H., Aug 30.-The
long and bloody war between Japan
and Russia is ended. The terms of
peace were settled by Mr.. Witte and
Baron Komura at the session of the
conference Tuesday morning, and in
the afternoon preliminary arrange
ments for an armistice were conclud-
ed and the actual work of framing the
treaty of Portsmouth" was by mutual
agreement turned over to Mr.. De Mar
tens, Russia's great international law
yer, and Mr. Dennison, who for 25
years has acted as the legal adviser of
the Japanese foreign office.
This happy conclusion of the con-
ference. which week ago would have
been shipwrecked had it not been for
the heroic intercession of President
Roosevelt, was sudden and dramatic
For the sake of peace Japan at the last
moment yielded everything still in is
sue. Russia refused to bulge from the
ultimatum Emperor Nicholas had
given to President Roosevelt through
Ambassador Meyer. No indemnity
under any guise, but an agreement to
divide Sakhalin and reimburse Japan
for the maintenance of the Russian
prisoners were his last words They
had been reiterated in Mr.. Whites in
structions and in the form of written
reply to the Japanese compromise
proposal of last Wednesday they were
delivered to Baron Komura yesterday.
Mr.. Witte went to the conference
declaring he was powerless to change
the dot Of an or the cross of in his
instructions Emperor Nicholas word
had been given not only to him, but
to President Roosevelt, the head of
, foreign state.
When Baron Komura therefore first
offered the new basis of compromise
outlined in Associated Press dis
patches Monday night (the complete
remuneration of indemnity, coupled
with a proposition for the redemption
of Sakhalin at price to be fixed by
mixed tribunal consisting of repre-
sentatives of the neutral powers, in
| fact if not in words, the solution of
fered by President Roosevelt), Mr..
Witte again returned non possumus.
1t was what Mr.. Witte termed the
psychological moment" Mr.. Witte
did not finch. He expected a rupture
and as he expressed it afterwards, he
was stunned by what happened. Baron
Komura gave way on all the disputed
points. With the prescience that had
enabled the Japanese to gauge the
mental processes of their adversaries
on the field of battle and upon the sea,
they had realized in advance that
peace could be obtained in no other
way. They had warned their govern
ment. President Roosevelt had also,
1t is believed advised Japan that it
was better to meet the Russian posi-
ton than to take the responsibility of
continuing the war for the purpose of
collecting tribute. The mikado at
Mondays session of the cabinet and
elder statesmen had sanctioned the
final concession. When Baron Komura
yielded the rest was mere childs play.
Articles 10 and II Gnterned war
ships and the limitation of Russias
sea power in the far east) were with
drawn. Japan agreed that only that
portion of the Chinese Eastern rail-
road south of Chantfu the position oc-
cupied by Oyama, should be ceded to
Japan. Both sides, once the deadlock
was broken, wanted "a just and last
ing" peace, and in that spirit it was
decided to practically neutralize SAX
halin, each country binding itself not
to fortify its half of the island, and
Japan assuming an obligation not to
fortify La Perouse Strait, between
Sakhalin and Hokkaido, which would
bar Russia's commercial route to the
Pacific.
The plenipotentiaries went further.
They decided to add a new clause in
the nature of a broad provision for
mutual commercial privileges by
which each country will secure for the
other the benefit of the most favored
nation" clause and the "open door"
The new treaty therefore will be
wonderfully friendly document, of a
character almost to raise the suspicion
that the two countries have not nego-
tiated peace, but have concluded the
/. basis Of a future alliance.
Before leaving the conference build
ing Fluctuations were exchanged with
! the president at Oyster Bay. Both
} Baron Komura and Mr. Witte tele-
graphed. The former confined himself
} to apprising Mr.. Roosevelt of the con.
ditions upon which peace had been
, concluded. Mr.. Witte frankly lait
, his tribute at the presidents feet. Ii
his message he said:
History will ascribe to you the
l glory" and added the expression o
1 Russia's hearty appreciation of the
4 presidents generous initiative" Mr.
r Roosevelt replied with words o
thanks and congratulation.
Both Want to Borrow.
New York, Aug. 30.-Well informed