The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-20
navy yard 70 attend the afternoon SaS-

| sion.
The peace conference was resume;
at ) o'clock. and il WIS then agreed &
leave the dra fling Of thu treaty to NJ
de Martens ana Mr.. DenaiSor and T.
adjourn subject 10 call. Several i'm
portant matters were brought up fol-
discussion and agreed upon in princi
pie. They included ARA n@ementS for
through traffic over the railway lines
in the possession Of Russia and Japan
taking Kwan@ rs the join
ing point. Vt was agreed that each
power should grant 10 the other the
m0st-favoraG- ton treatment until Il
new commerrial treaty could he signed.
In the meanwhile Portsmouth was
celebrating the restoration OF peace by
ringing all the bells and blowing all the
whistles. This WAS by order OF the
Mayor. and began at $50 O'Clock. last
ing till $50. The Paul Revere bell III
the Old North Church, bell cast by
the famous Revolutionary hero, was
rung continuously during that time.
At $50 o'clock tie japanese returned
to the hotel, and were received by 4
cheering crowd. The enthusiasm was
not much less than that shown when
the Russians arrived. but Baron ko-
mura and Minister Takahira marched
through the crowd without looking to
| the right or 70 the left and without
moving a muscle of thei: faces. There
was nothing to show that they had
heard 4 sound.
Five minuIes later Mr.. Sato. who had
been with them. came down stairs with
the statement Of the afternoons pro-
ceedings. Surrounded by the corre-
spondents and the usual crowd Of GU
| riosity seekers, he went out Oh the rear
verarda and read it as follows:
The question of the final disposi-
ton Of the island Of Sakhalien and the
reimbursement to Japan for her war
expenses have from the first been is
sues upon which an absolute diverS-
ence of views existed The difference
! Of opinion upon these points-not one.
| but both--has frequently threatened
! the existence Of the conference. But
! His Majesty the Emperor OF Japan, re-
spending to the dictates Of humanity
and civilization, has. in a spirit OF per-
feet Cancellation and in the interests Of
| peace, authorized his plenipotentlaries
| to waive the question Of reimburse
| ment Of war expenses and has consent
ed to division of Sakhalien upon terms
| which are mutually acceptable. thus
| making it possible to bring the impor-
tant work of the conference to 4 sue
cesSful issue
Mr. Sato was asked How is Sakha-
lien to be divided?"
"The northern part goes to Russia
and the southern part to Japan. The
boundary is to be the iftieth degree:
that has been agreed upon and will be
placed in the treaty"
"'Will anything be submitted to arb!-
tration or to the decision Of mixed
commission?
NO" said Mr. Sato RUSSIA and
Japan will settle it between themselves.
No outsiders whatever will have any
thing to do with it,
How about the payment Of money
for the care Of prisoners?'
I'VE will pay Russia the actual cost
of the keep Of the prisoners she mas
taken, and she will pay US the actual
cost of hers. No maximum or mini
mum was fixed. 1t is simply matter
Of bookkeeping. The bills will be sent
in aud a balance will be struck"
The question whether it was to be
peace or war was decided at private
meeting Of the ENJOYS in the morning
after the secretaries had Withdrawn
from the conference room. 1t IS un-
derstood that Baron komura made
more than one proposal to NJ. Witte
concerning the money payment to be
made by Russia. The Russian envoy
rejected them all, and then handed to
Baron Komura Il written reply, IN
which he stated that Russia had gone
as far as she intended to 60 NJ. Wltte
offered to cede the southern end OF Sax
halisn, which Japan held prior to 1879:
but absolutely refused to make any
money payment
1t was on reading this note that 6a-
ron Komura said I'VE accept your con-
ditions." The scene took place in tie
presence of the envoys alone, the secre-
taries being excluded from the room.
No record Of it remains.
The secretaries were then called in
and the formal proceedings o. the con-
ference were begun, exactly as II no
agreement had been privately reached
between the ENJOYS. First the protCcol
of the last meeting was read AND
signed. then the question of Sakhalien
and a money payment was taken up
and discussed fully, and Blron komura
said:
1--WE have made you several offers.
What is your reply?"
n. Witte answered:
Il regret very much, but the Russian
Government cannot accept your pro-
posals.'
Then" said Baron Komura, quietly
and very seriously, eve make you an
other offer-to waive the money pay
ment and give you half of Sakhaiien.
Il accept the offer" said the Russian
| envoy.
It was the irony Of fate that the
words withdrawing Japan's demands
should be spoken by 4 man bitterly op-
posed to the surrender he was making,
even as the man who was pushing the
! Russian ultimatum to a glorious result
was the most prominent opponent OF
the war in Russia. 1t was probably
scene without parallel. Witte, who
had incurred little less than disgrace
by his opposition to the war. had won
the only victory gained by his nation
| and Komura, who had opposed to the
last the terms to which the Mlkado
| had consented, was the man through
| -.lo.o ,,o,,+h +ba pyar hol ended