Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09

dentials were exchanged does not tell the
whole story, Baron Komura did not
bring down his credentials, so that NJ.
Witte only presented his own, which were
found entirely satisfactory, while Baron Ko-
mura explained what his credentials con-
tained and promised to bring the copy to-
morrow.
Baron Komura was quite willing to send
for them at once but NJ. Witte assured
him there was no reason to delay the meet
Ing for this reason. and said the official
copy could easily be brought tomorrow and
that the verbal account of what the Jap
anese credentials contained indicated that
they were entirely satisfactory.
Mr. Mabokoff was charged with the writ
ing of the minutes or protocol, as they call
them. At tomorrow's meeting besides NJ.
Witte, Baron Komura and Mr.. Mabokoff,
will also be present NJ. Jean Korostovetz
and M. George de Plancon. Three secre-
taries not yet chosen will assist Baron Ko-
mura.
Baron Kumura's Statement.
On behalf of Baron Komura and Mr.
Takahira, Mr.. Sato handed the following
official statement to the Associated Press
regarding this mornings meeting:
'Todays meeting was informal. for the
purpose of settling the method of pro-
cedure, and in that meeting it was de-
cided that formal meetings will COM
mence tomorrow morning at 9:30. Meet
1ngs VIII be held twice a day, one from
$50 to l2:3o and the other from to $50
or 6 o'clock in the afternoon, subject to
notifications as may be agreed upon
later. No serious business was transacted
al this mornings session.
THAT NJ. Witte should have brought his
credentials to the conference and Baron
Komura should have left his at the Hotel
Wentworth appears to have been due to
misunderstanding Baron Komura thinking
that this mornings session would be en-
tirely informal. indeed it was, and there
fore that it would not be necessary to take
the documents"
The Credentials.
Soon after the session convened however
NJ. Witte drew out the eng1ossed creden-
tlals. and it was then that the mistake be-
came evident. Baron Komura was able
however, to give in detail the nature of his
powers. and this incident did not in the
slightest degree delay the progress of the
meeting. Because, however. there was no
other business to transact. and because 1t
would have taken hour or more to get
the official japanese papers from the
Wentworth to the navy yard
NJ. Whites credentials, after being thor
oughy examined, We're returned to him.
and tomorrow morning Baron Komura will
be on hand at half-paSt o'clock with the
credentials for himself and Mr.. Takahra
and NJ. Witte will then again present the
credentials of himself and Baron Rosen,
which will not need again to be examined
1t was not desired that this incident should
be commented upon, the tnvoys are so
well satisfied that the powers both sides
are entirely satisfactory, and that they re-
gard the exchange of credentials as a COM
plete formality.
Some Uneasiness
When it became known at the hotel that
the Russians credentials had been pre-
sented and examined and the japanese had
not been presented there was considerable
Ilpe Tn arta fria
an attempt was made to make much of this
incident indicating that Japan had scored
at the first meeting.
There Is, however. official authority for
the statement that Baron Komura was en-
tirely sincere in his understanding that
there were to be no formalities at this
mornings session. and hence did not think
1t necessary to bring his official letters.
1t is pointed out that the offer of Baron
Komura to send for his papers and the as
surance rendered by NJ Witte that the
verbal account of their contents was en-
tirely satisfactory indicates clearly that
the whole incident was due to a misunder-
standing, the occurrence of which Is not
at all unnatural in view of the informality
with which the preliminaries for this morn
ing's meeting were arranged.
Gear Favorable to Peace.
PARIS, August 9.-The correspondent of
the Echo de Paris at st. Petersburg says
that Emperor Nicholas has instructed M.
Witte to use the utmost endeavors to OBJ
tain peace, and that he has been empow-
cred not merely to transmit the Japanese
conditions to the emperor, but to discuss
ard try to ameliorate them. Meanwhile
Russia, owing to the uncertainty as to
whether the conditions will be accepta Bile.
continues to prepare to carry on the war
vigorously.