Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1905-09-07
IT is PEACE AT LAST
The ENJOYS at Portsmouth Have
Reached an Agreement.
yapan Yields All Disputed Points, Receives No Indemnity, d.
vides Sakhalin Releases Interned Warships and With
draws Demand for Curtailment Of Russa's Sea
Power in Far East-TO BE Armistice.

peace were sembled by Mr.. White and
Baron Komura at the session OF the
conference Tuesday morning and Tues
day afternoon preliminary arrange
iments for an armistice were concluded
and the actual work Of framing the
treaty Of Portsmouth" was by mutual
agreement turned over to Mr.. DeMar-
tens, Russia's great international law
yer, and Mr.. Dennison, who for 20
years has acted as the legal adviser OF
the Japanese foreign Office.
The treaty is expected to be compiet-
ed by the end Of the week.
This happy conclusion OF the confer
.ence, which a week ago would have
been shipwrecked had 1t not been for
the heroic intercession Of President
Roosevelt. was sudden and dramatic.
For the sake of peace, Japan, with the
magnanimity of victor, 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 Ambas-
.sador Meyer. No indemnity under any
;suise, but an agreement to divide SAX
halin and reimburse Japan for the
maintenance of the Russian prisoners
were his last words. They had been
repeatedly reiterated in Mr.. Whites
instructions and in the form Of writ
ten reply to the Japanese compromise
proposal of last Wednesday, they were
delivered to Baron Komura this morn
ing. Mr.. Witte went to the conference
declaring he was powerless to change
the dot of an 81" of the cross of 1T"
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 compro-
mise outlined in the Associated press
dispatches Monday night, the complete
pronunciation of indemnity, coupled with
a proposition for the redemption of
:Sakhalin at price to be fixed by
mixed tribunal consisting of represen-
tatives of the neutral powers, in fact,
If not in words, the solution offered by
1.-THE president, Mr.. White again returned
a non pcssumus. 1t was what MIR.
White termed in his interview with the
Associated press the psychological
moment" Mr.. Witte did not finch.
He expected rupture and as he ex-
pressed it afterward, he was stunned
by what happened. Baron Komura
gave way on all the disputed points.
With the precedence that has enabled
the Japanese to guage the mental pro-
'cesses 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 government. Presi-
dent Roosevelt had also 1t is believed,
advised Japan that 1t was better to
meet the Russian position than to
take the responsibility of continuing
the war for the purpose of collecting
tribute. The mikado at the session
<of the cabinet and Elder Statesmen
Monday had sanctioned the finel con-
.cession. When Baron Komura yielded,
the rest was mere child's play.
Articles 10 and II Qnterned warships
and the limitation Of Russia's sea pow
Ter in the far east were Withdrawn.
Japan agreed that only that portion of
the Chinese Eastern railroad south of
'Chantfu, the position occupied by Oya-
ma, should be ceded to Japan. Both
sides, once the deadlock was broken,
wanted ''just and lasting" peace and
lin that respect 1t was decided to prac-
tically neutralize Sallhalin, each coun-
try binding itself not to fortify its
half of the island, and Japan assuming
AN obligation not to fortify the La
Perouse strait between Sakhalin ana
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 broad provision for mu-
stual commercial privileges by which
each country will secure for the other
athe benefit of the most favored ma
'tion" clause and the "open door,"
The new treaty, therefore, will be a
wonderfully frie dly document, Of
character almost TO raise the suspicion
that the two countries have not ne
igotiated peace. but have concluded the
basis Of future alliance. There is.
however, no evidence as rumored that
Cany secret clauses are to be appended
TO the present treaty.
Before leaving the conference build
ing Fluctuations were exchanged with
THE president at Oyster Bay. Both
Baron Komura and Mr.. Witte tele-
sgraphed. The former confined himself
to apprising Mr.. Roosevelt Of the con-
Aditions upon which peace had been