The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-08-19
HAS Yielded SEVEN POINTS
NJ. Witte Points to This as Evidence
That He Is Doing All He Can
to Bring About Peace.

Portsmouth. N. H., Aug. 1.-THE
prospects Of peace are now distinctly
brighter. The plenipotentiaries are
laboring with seriousness and earn
estness which leave not the slightest
doubt that both are anxious to con-
clude a treaty. Though the main
points remain to be contested and the
plenipotentiaries speak as though the
conference would 60 to pieces unless
the other side gave way, the spirit OF
compromise is in the air. When he
returned to the hotel last night, M.
Witte, who was tired with his hard
days work, said:
81 am doing all can for peace. OF
the eight articles we have already con-
sidered, have yielded seven. No 9th
or statesman in Russia would have dar-
ed to do as much, and have done
what I have done on my own response.
bility."
From an authoritative source it il
now possible to forecast with a fair
degree of accuracy, that the crisis will
come on next Monday. Articles z and
8, dealing with the fate Of the Chinese
Eastern railway, having been disposed
Of, there remains, in addition to the
cession Of Sskhslin, which was passed
over, and the question Of indemnity,
which comes on today as article 9, the
limitation of Russia's sea power in the
Far East, the surrender Of the interned
warships, and the grant to Japan of
fishing rights on the coast north of
Vladivostok.
Modification Anticipated.
To all except the latter, to which
Russia will agree, q negative answer
has been returned absolutely, as in the
case of indemnity and Sakhalin.
Perhaps both the others may be mod
flied and accepted by M. Witte in order
to strengthen his position in insisting
upon q concession from Japan regard.
ing it's demands for indemnity and SAX
halin.
Before yielding on either of the lat
ter it oan be regarded as practically
certain that M. Witte would consult
the emperor.
The exchange Of views on the five
remaining articles is expected to be
completed on Friday or Saturday. The
plenipotentiaries will then adjourn I'M
til Monday, and the interim'will prob.
ably be used BY the rlenipotentisriea
to consult with their respective govern.
ments. When they meet on Monday
their last cards will be thrown upon
the table. II there is to be bargaining
it will come then, and suddenly the
conference will be over, and peace
will be assured. The plenipotentiariee
will come together with protocols
drawn up to sign and part or all re-
main for the elaboration Of the 'Treaty
of Washington"
r1anChurian Railroad.
Articles and 8 were disposed of
yesterday, the former Gin principle -
the latter Unanimously" according
to the Official bulletins. Article pro-
vides for the oession to China Of the
branch of the China Eastern railroad
running south from Hardin to Port
Arthur and Dalny, and with. branch
line connecting at Newchwang with
the Shanhaikwan-T ientsin road.
Article 8 provides for tho retention
by Russia Of the line through Man.
churia which forms the connecting
link Of tho main line of the TRANSIT.
berian and the Usuri railroad with its
terminal at Vladivostok and Kar-
borovsk.
From both sides the Ass .ciated Press
10 informed that the acceptance ''in
principle Of article only means that
certain phases remain to DO elaborated,
not that q dispute still exists. But
this may possibly be q convenient
method Of postponing until the final
struggle the acceptance Of an article
which would be used in the ultimate
compromise.
Russia by the acceptance Of these
two articles in connection with articles
3, 8, 4 and 6, surrenders every vestige
Of her ambition in Manchuria. She
CLOSES the door to the warm water, ice
free port Of Dalny. upon which she
lavished her millions, and retains only
the link Of the railroad connecting her
European possessions with the maritime
provinces upon the Pacific. The right
to police it with Russian troops or rail-
road guards 10 given up and ito protec-
ton will become the duty Of China.
Terms SUBMITTED
BY BARON KOMURA
Portsmouth. N. H., Aug. Ire
imbursement for the expenses sustain
ed in the prosecution Of the war and
the cession Of the island Of Sakhalin