The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-16
PASS over JAP
DEMAND FOR LAND
ENJOYS, 0Isagreslng on That,
60 On 10 Other Conditions
for Peace.
FATE OF INTERNE0 SHIPS
laps Believed to Have Yielded
Temporarily on That Peiut.

United states and China May Have Voice In
Final Disposition Of Vessels That
Sought Refuge in Their Porte Cessiou
OF Railway in Manchurta Not Consid.
ered-Envoys to Get Simplest Terms
Out Of the Way First-Dsy's Proceed.
ings Make the Peacc Advocates Hopeful
PORTSMOUTH, NJ H., Aug. l5.-Russia
and Japan struck the first snag to-day In
their attempt to navigate the difficult and
tortuous waters that lead to peace. Pre-
dictions have been freely made that when
this occurred all hope Of SUCCESS would
vanish and the attempt to settle the Far
Eastern war would end abortively.
But the four able men to whom their
respective Governments have entrusted
the determination OF the destinies Of the
two great nations whose affairs hold tho
foremost place Of interest In the eyes OF the
civilized world disappointed the prophets
Of evil by doing what all sensible men would
do. When they realized that 1t was useless
to attempt to reach an agreement at this
time upon the point In dispute they calmly
made note Of it and turned to the next
question before them.
In this course Of action the world hat tho
assurance that the plenipotentiaree OF
Russia and Japan intend to make an honest
effort to perform the duty which has
brought them to this New England town.
far removed from scenes q hostile conflict
and political agitation. From the moment
when they reached the phase of discussion
It became foregone conclusion that they
would attempt to mako good In the eyes
of the world by giving an opportunity for q
full and free Interchange Of views upon
every aspect Of the problems which wore
placed before them for adjustment. 1t
was not supposed that they would find tho
way smooth and easy; in fact. the progress
they have made in the few days devoted
to actual consideration OF the issues, has
been a very surprising feature Of the CON-
ference. Their failure to agree to-day
NAV mean much or little, but their decision
to proceed with their work is to be accepted
as an evidence Of their good sense and de-
votion to the cause Of peace.
sAKHAL1N THE DISPUTED POINT.
Information derived from a source re-
earded as reliable leads to the belief that
the Japanese demand for the cession OF
Sakhalin Island to the Toxic Government
Ia the point upon which the ENJOYS failed
to agree. This was article OF the jap
anese conditions, and when the plenipo-
tentiaries found that they could not agree
upon a harmonious adjustment Of it's pro
visions, they came to the conclusion that
1t should be sidetracked for the time being
in order not to delay the consideration o!
other articles not 80 seriously regarded.
The dispute over article occurred at
the morning session Of the, ENJOYS and upon
the recess for luncheon they authorized
the following statement:
in the morning session OF Aug is the
conference discussed Articles Nv. and " Ar
ticle vi. was unanimously agreed upon. Not
being able to arrive at a unanimous deci-
sion on Article v. the plenipotentiaries de-
cided to take note Of the divergent views
and to proceed with the discussion OF the
other articles
To attempt to give an account Of what
occurred at the conference Of to-day Ia to
pretend knowledge that nobody Is believed
to possess outside of those who were pres
ent at the session. From an unquestioned
source Of information 1t Is learned. how
ever, that the Russian plenipotentiaries
have accepted Japan's condition that her
prepopderanoe Of influence In Corea be
recognized by Russia, coupled with the
proviso upon which Mr.. Witte and Baron
Rosen insisted that Russia receive most
favored nation treatment In her trade inter-
course with the hermit kingdom, and that
they have also agreed to the Japanese
demand that Manchuria be evacuated.
The evacuation clause Of the arrangement
thus far completed provides for the with
drawal not only Of Russian. but Of Japanese
troops. 1t was finally adjusted at this morn
ings session.
DISCUSSION OF THE INTERNED SHIPS.
When the plenipotentiaries assembled
after luncheon they Immediately began the
consideration of article O. Strict secrecy
as to what this article provided is being
observed by both sides, but 1t leaked out
this evening that the Russian ENJOYS had
gained victory In the adjustment Of 1t.
From this one known fact the inference
Ia drawn that tho Japanese demand for tho
possession Of the Russian ships interned
under the custody Of the American and the
Chinese governments at Manila, San Fran
CISCO. Shanghai and Chefoo was the ques-
ton.
Some surprise was manifested when II
became known that japan had insisted that