The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-01

Portsmouth, August 3O.-Actual
work Of drafting the Treaty of Ports
mouth" began today. 1t is being done
by Mr.. DeMartens and Mr.. DennisOn,
acting as legal advisors for the re-
spective sides. While the bases" of
peace have been accepted by the pie
nipOtentiaries, considerable detail re-
mains to be worked out in the elabo-
ration of the articles of the treaty.
This is especially true in regard to
the articles dealing with the Chinese
Eastern railway, and the surrender
of the leases of the Liao Lung penin-
sula, and Port Arthur, and Talienwan
Oalny). Mr.. Pekotilog, the Russian
minister of Pekin, who was formerly
manager Of the RussO-Chinese bank at
Pekin, who has intimate knowledge
of all the details relating to these
matters is assisting Mr.. DeMartens.
A very anomalous situation exists
as to the impression created by the
conclusion of peace. While the outside
world applauds, in Japan there is evil
IDENTIFY great disappointment in the
terms. and in Russia, where it would
seem that there should be universal
rejoicing over the great diplomatic vic
tory ". Witte has won, the govern
ment seems to have received it coldly.
With the people it will make NJ.
nd
add to his laurelS, but at court evil
IDENTITY the very victory NJ. Witte has
achieved makes it all the more bitterly
resented. 1t is an open secret that
when the Emperor appointed NJ. Witte
chief plenipotentiary, the military
party" expected him to fail. They did
not want peace and it was freely pre-
dicted in st. Petersburg when NJ. Witte
left that he had been given an i'm
possible mission. They expected him
to fail in the negotiations or to make
a bad peace" and either would have
spelled political ruin. Instead, upon
the very terms upon which the Emper-
Or told Mr.. Meyer he would make
peace and upon which the military par
ty did not believe it possible for peace
to be negotiated, NJ. Witte succeeded
in securing Il treaty honorable and un-
der the circumstances, favorable to
Russia. This has evidently only eX-
asperated his enemies the more, and
intrigue is again at work to discredit
HIM. Since Japan is in cOnciliatOry
mood they now say he made mistake
in surrendering half of Sakhalin. Yet
he did so by the Cars orders, and
he himself insists that personally he
tho ND JS
original declaration not to cede terri
tory or give indemnity.
Not a word or line about the receipt
of the news comes out of Japan. In
view of the situation both at Toxic
and st. Petersburg alarmists are in
clined t make much of the fact that
the minutes of yesterdays fateful
meeting have not been signed by the
plenipotentiaries refuse to admit even
1t is pointed out that either side could
still repudiate the agreement but both
plenipOtentiaries refuse to admi even
the possibility of such 4 happening.
ADD TO COME
The following statement of the Jap
anese argument which governed their
decision to waive the question of in
6emnity can be accepted as authorita-
tive.
Japan realizes fully she was making
a sacrifice for peace. but she was look
ing to the future. 1t was not a ques-
ton of whether the war could be sue
cessfully continued, but of whether
peace was not now more advantageous
to Japan. Japan had already gained
, all she fought for. 1t was only the
"spoils of war" that remained, and
having achieved the real objects Of
the war she could afford to forego the
spOils rather than be placed in the po-
sition of fighting for money. While
Japan believed she was entitled to the
spoils, she felt that her position was
strong, her successes so complete that
she could yield without detracting
from the force of her victory.
Mr.. Dennison and Mr.. DeMartens
worked unfil g O'Clock tonight on the