Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-08-15

Portsmouth, Aug. 15.-The peace
conference began at 10:02 this morn :
Ing.
That the making Of peace is siren
uous life is Illustrated by the daily
program Of the work Of the peace en-
VOWS and their suites. Eight sessions
Of the conference have been held since
the arrival Of the missions at Ports
& mouth a week ago, and all but one OF
these have been long as to hours
Outside. Of the sessions everyone con-
nected with the work says there Is
continuous and taxing occupation with
but few hours for rest and practically
none for recreation. The ENJOYS nave
breakfast before 9 o'clock, they are in
the navy yard before 10. and with the
exception Of brief space for luncheon
served in the conference building, they
st;ly in session until evening. After
this hurried dinner is served at the
hotel and the work Of the evening and
night begins.
7s Last night, for NJ. Witte and Baron
Rosen there was an outside duty, ana
on. Of almost as much Importance as
ne,,ce between Russia and Japan,
namely. consideration of the question
Of amelioration of the condition OF the
Jews in Russia. with a delegation Oh
eminent American Hebrews.
Japs Busy.
During this time the Japanese emls-
saries were busily engaged In the.r
uuarters in bringing their records to
date. in preparation Of cablegrams and
in getting ready for the next day. An
Idea Of the volume Of cables which are
daily sent to Europe and the far east
msty be had from the statement that
sunday one cable company handled
$4,000 worth of business. Both sides
are very keen in the matter OF thelr
fa,,ilities for communication. The
heavy tax on the local telephone wires
made it impossible for them to get
Quick service between the hotel and
their conference rooms in the navy
ward. and complaint was made, with
the result that Secretary Pierce had
two direct telephone systems installed
between these points, one for the Rus
sians and one for the Japanese. Ex-
elusive use Of the navy yard, so far as
civilians are concerned, is still pos
sessed absolutely by members OF the
peace commission. Yesterday, in addt-
tion to the regular guard Of marines,
q detail Of secret service men was ad-
ded. These surrounded the building
ana kept constant watch thruout the
session.
Today's Session.
At the morning session today consid :
Grafton Of article four, which relates
to Liaotung peninsula and surrender
of Russian leases. was begun. As
cession of Sakhalin is the fifth article,
fh,s natural deduction would be that
to,iay would witness a collision and
possibly a deadlock. But it appeared
more likely that the question of ces-
sion OF the island upon which neither
side is now prepared to yield, when
reached, by mutual agreement, would
be postponed until the end. The policy
of each side. as understood, being to
maneuver to place the responsibility Of
rupture on the other, it is regarded as
practical certainty neither will insist
at this juncture upon precipitating a
situation which will decide this issue.
The plan it is almost certain, is to pass
over the disputed articles and see how
far an agreement is possible, then to
return and attack the obstacles.
This is the logical and general meth
Cd of diplomacy. 1t has the great ad-
vantage of bringing the plenipotentiar-
lei, to a reapproachment upon every
possible point, and clearly defining the
points Of divergence and narrowing
the issues which divide the negotia-
ticns to the fewest possible number. II.
for instance, the disputed points were
reduced to two, as it is considered GER
tain they eventually will be, the plen-
ipotentiaries would be enabled to bar
gain or compromise, to offer PROPOSE
tion and counter proposition. If. in the
end, an agreement is found to be i'm
possible. the world would know. and
be able to form its Judgment of the
merits of the respective contentious.
and place the blame for prolongation
e the carnage in the far east The