The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-17

From Port Arthur to Within Ten Miles
OF Harbin-Belief That Japanese En-.
voys Arc Ready to, Modify some Of tho
Demands in Order to Secure Treaty
Their Insistence on Secrecy Of the
Conference Debate sustains This View.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. le.-In the
face OF generally gloomy forecast, the pre-
diction Is hazarded that the peace con-
ference will not end disastrously with the
week now only half finished. From the
first the prophets Of evil have contended
daily that the exchanges between the en-
voys OF Russia and Japan were mere
matter Of hours, but the trend Of events
has demonstrated that the two belligerents
have entrusted their affairs to men who
are alive to the heavy responsibilities I'M
posed upon them by their imperial masters
and are honestly and conscientiously striv-
ing to perform their duty according to
their respective lights.
They have displayed a temper in the
face OF trying circumstances that COM
mands respect and admiration, and whom
they have shown that II the worst should
come and the worst means q resumption
Of hostilities their work may be measured
In the balance Of public opinion and not
found wanting.
t,bk 90 1orn
only by recess Of short duration, the
ENJOYS are comforted by the knowledge
that they have done much that Is worthy
OF praise. Tomorrow the tug Of war will
he begun. and Judged by what has passed
1t will not be a struggle Of short duration,
but will be fought with bulldog perse-
verance by all concerned until there IL .
decision or draw.
or the twelve conditions precedent to
peace laid down by Japan upon the second
day Of the conference seven have been
adjusted practically by unanimous agree
ment between the ENJOYS. The two sessions
to-day were devoted entirely to articles
and Of the Japanese terms, both Of which
related to the demand Of Japan for the
possession of the Eastern Chinese Railway,
a Russian institution, for the distance
between Port Arthur and Hardin. An
agreement was reached before the second
session ended except upon one minor
point, which does not promise an obstacle
to a complete understanding
Under articles I and 8, adopted to-day,
provision Is made for the future control Of
the Eastern Chinese Railway both in Siberia
and Manchuria. The agreement provides
that Japan shall control the road from Port
Arthur to within ten miles OF Hardin, and
Russia shall have control from that point
TO Vladivostok.
CRITICAL ISSUES TO-DAY.
Tie remaining articles, four in number,
will te taken up tomorrow. They are all
related In the sense OF being punitive, and
there Is q disposition on the Fart Of the
ENJOYS to regard them as capable Of con-
sideration for general discussion.
Article ". which concerns the Japanese
demand for the cession Of Sakhalin Island
and was passed over yesterday by mutual
consent after the ENJOYS found they could
not agree, is one OF the remaining points in
dispute. The others relate to the demand
Of Jaran for remuneration for the cost Of
the war, the limitation Of Russian naval
strength In the Pacific, the transfer Of fish
ing rights at the mouth Of the Amur River
to Jaran and, it is surmised the possession
of interned Russian ships or the grant Of
commercial privileges at Vladivostok.
It IL useless at this time to attempt to
forecast what the outcome OF the con-
sideration Of these remaining articles will
be. Newspaper readers should understand
that the details OF the conference have
never become known. Only few scattered
facts have appeared In myriad Of specula-
tive assertion. What has been said by the
plenipotentiaries in their daily deliberations
has not been furnished to the press, 30 we'll
have those who were present observed the
spirit OF their compact to refrain from talk
ing. 1t is true that certain things have
leaked out, and tho opportunity for inteli-
gent discussion Of the business before the
conference has been afforded by significant
although somewhat indefinite remarks,
but there has been no full understanding
given OF the arguments Of either side.
How useless 1t is IN these conditions to
gay that the conference will end within q
day or two is apparent TO tho Intelligent
mind. But. 1t may be added, even the ENJOYS
do not know what the outcome viii be. or
at least the Russian ENJOYS do not, II they
are honest in what they have told those
who possess their confidence.
As for the Japanese, they are saying
nothing. They possess the key to the diff
cult situation. But whether they will use
1t to unlock the door to peace Is something