The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-10
RUSSIA KNOWS,
Peace Terms Have Been Handed
to Her ENJOYS at Portsmouth.
Witte Places the Document in
His Inside Pocket.
WILL LOOK 1T OVER.
An Early Reply in Writing Is
Promised.
Presents a Note on KOmura's
Action of Wednesday.

official statement has been made by Mr. |
Korostevtze:
In the meeting of August 10 the ques- |
ton of full powers has been regulated |
so that there will be no more difficulties |
on that subject. After this the Jap-1
anese ENJOYS handed to the Russians |
the conditions of peace in writing. It
has been decided that the Russian plen- |
ipotentiaries will study the question and
will, as soon as possible, give their an
swer in writing. In the meantime the
meeting has been adjourned
The presentation of the japanese
terms came at the very end of The
morning session. Baron Komura him
self handed the momentous document
in duplicate in French and Russian to
Mr.. Witte, who thrust the papers into
his inside pocket and the session was
declared adjourned.
Immediately after the envoys and
their secretaries gathered in the confer
ence room and exchanged compliment
tary words, partly in Japanese, Mr..
| Witte produced a diplomatic note ad-
dressed to the japanese in connection
with their failure to present their ere
dentials at yesterdays meeting. What
the contents Of this note are cannot
yet be learned but there is a basis for
the belief that Mr.. Witte in this note
surprise which he undoubtedly felt that
the Japanese envoys after having from
| the outset of the preliminaries laid so
much stress on the necessity of exam
! lining credentials before the first step
was taken should at the first meeting
| have failed to bring with them full Off
! cial letters. 1t was the understanding
of the Russian ENJOYS that Baron ko-
| mura would decline to even open up
negotiations of a formal character un-
| less he had satisfied himself of the va
! lidity of the full powers of MI. Witte.
1 Historical precedentS are quoted in the
note to show the irregularity of yestef-
| days proceedings. The purpose of the
Russian note was to make the per-
manent record complete and make it
show clearly the attitude of the pleni-
potentiaries from the beginning of the
! conference.
A Clash Already.
Neither the Japanese nor the Rus
| sian ENJOYS or aides wore the uniforms
| of their official rank today and it is
probable on account of the heat that
it will be decided to discard even
! formal civil attire for negligee ap-
parel
Among the Russian and japanese
delegates at the hotel there is a great
deal of discussion about the ac-
| duiescence of Mr.. Witte in the sugges-
ton of Baron Komura to exclude dele
gates from the conferences. Baron
Komura raised a specific objection to
the presence OF RrOI. Oo Martens,
whom Mr.. Witte and Baron ROSen de-
sired to have in attendance in an ad-
visory capacity, offering to agree to
the presence of any of the Japanese
delegates. But the Japanese declined.
saying they should not ask. for the
presence of any of the delegates. Mr..
Witte did not press the point but it
may be raised again later should a
basis of settlement be reached.
Historical DrecedentS are in favor of
a. dalh0atPS
the Japanese objection stand, it would
independently of its bearings upon the
lnegOtiatOrS, create a precedent from
which appeal might be made in future.
In such negotiations only the pleni-
potentiaries are usually entitled to
sign whatever treaty or convention is
concluded, but delegates frequently
participated in general discussion and
IferenceS are provided with special
credentials to append their signatures.
Mr.. De Martens, for instance, who
was a delegate at the peace conference
of 1899. also presided at the meetings
of one of the sections which included
both plenipctentiarie and delegates,
ninety-five persons in all. With the
end of the conference he was clothed
with the necessary powers to sign the
agreement.
Second Session.
Portsmouth, N, H, Aug. 10.-In
glorious sunshine shortly after 9
O'Clock the peace p1enipotentiaries of
the warning nations of the east set
out for the navy yard to hold their
second session, at which, according to
general belief, Japan might be ex-
pected to show her hand to her ad-
versary. Upon the moderation or
stiffness of the terms will depend the
continuation of the war.
In some well-informed quarters
however, doubt exists whether the
Japanese would today lay their cards
foI1I
impression existed that Baron Ko-
mura was sparring for little more
time. Indeed, it had been vaguely
intimated that some minor prelimi-
naries regarding procedure remained
to be settled, and that the whole day
possibly might be consumed in de-
Gliding upon these details.
The Japanese gave not the slightest
hint of what was to be expected
With all the secrecy observed by
against the Russian commander-in-
chief in Manchuria, Baron Komura
and his suite have prepared their
diplomatic campaign here. M. Witte
They can only wait and watch for the
decisive moment to arrive. 1t is
known, however, that they went to the
meeting this morning strongly inclined
I to believe for some reason their ad-
, versaries would not reveal their posi-
: tion today.
Although intimations have been
thrown out from Japanese sources
! that when the time arrived they
would lay down their terms and prac-
tically announce that Mr. Witte must
take or reject them as a basis, and
that the issue would be practically de-
cided at the first clash, the Associated
Press has the strongest reason to be-
Iieve that no such summary tactics
are to be pursued.
!, |