The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-16
ARTICLE VII.
A Stumbling Block Struck in
the Peace Negotiations.
Section Referring to Chinese
Eastern Causes Trouble.
THE FORENOON SESSION
Was Consumed in Discussion of
- the Subject.
without Even ApprOXimating
an Agreement.
THE FORENOON SESSION

Portsmouth, Aug. 16.-The morning
session Of the peace commissioners to-
day ended at 1 o'clock. During the
entire time the discussion was upon
article of the peace terms, which re-
fers to the cession of the Chinese East
ern railroad to China. The following
statement was given out by Russian
delegate:
I'm the morning session of August
is, the conference has taken up the
discussion of article Z. The discussion
not having been finished the confer
ence has taken a recess at 1 o'clock.
The session will be resumed at g."
The exchange of views this morning
was of a very earnest character and 1t
is expected the discussion of article
will consume all of the afternoon ses-
sion. Indeed. at the time the ENJOYS
adjourned for luncheon they were not
at all certain they would be able to
complete the discussion today.
The japanese ENJOYS, after trip
from Newcastle in an uncovered motor
car, though a cold rain prevailed, ar
rived at the navy yard at $40 today.
The Russian commissioners reached
there a few minutes afterward. 1t is
understood the subject to be consid-
peace conditions which is the one re-
lating to the cession of the Chinese
Eastern railroad to China. Beginning
today the peace plenipotentiaries are
to be served with breakfast in their
dining room at the navy yard. The
arrangement has proved very attrac-
tive. The menu for breakfast is
printed in French and sets forth an
array of dishes calculated to please the
appetite of the widest variety. Break
fast will be ready each morning at half
past and it is the intention to have
the meal concluded so that the session
may begin by 10. The trip of the en-
Voys from the hotel to the navy yard
this morning was very disagreeable on
account of the steady, chilling rain to
which the Japanese were exposed.
The article before the ENJOYS today
number seven-covering the question of
the cession to China of the Chinese
Eastern railroad which runs south from
Harbin to Dalny, with a spur to New
chwang, where it connects with the
Shanghai Kwan-Tiensin road, was con-
ditionally accepted by the Russians but
agreement to it was bound UP with con-
sideration involving the fate of the
whole negotiations and it is certain to
lead to long and earnest discussion.
Russia will not admit the japanese
contention that the road is wholly a
government institution as all the shares
of the corporation are owned by the
Russo Chinese bank. The government s
interest i'll the road, however, probably
will not be denied but it will be urged
that so far as it is private property it
is not confisca BILE. The Russian conten-
ton will be backed up by evidence.
Mr. Berg, the vice-director and attor-
ney of the Russo-Chinese bank, while
here attached to the mission, as one of
Mr.. Whites secretaries, is also here to
protect the interests of the bank. New
ertheless in the long run. Russia, it can
be regarded as certain is prepared to
grfW E1a
Russo Chinese bank if necessary as
with the loss of Port Arthur and
Dalny and the evacuation of Man
churia, its raiSon d'etre for strategic
and military purposes ceases. It's sur
render to China, however involves a
large monetary profit for Japan which
can properly claim remuneration from
China for the revocation of the road, the
rebuilding of the bridges and the change
in the gauge. 1t will be for China and
japan to arrange this, but, however, ad-
juSted the money which Japan will OBJ
tain might be a partial remuneration
for the cost of the war which she de-
mand from Russia and constitutes,
perhaps. the line of ultimate compro-
mise if a treaty eventually is signed. 1t
is quite likely therefore that agreement
on the article after discussion will be
had late and will be settled in the final
exchange of views There are other
reasons why this will probably be the
case. The main line of the railroad
through northern Manchuria to Vladi-
VoStok which Russia will insist on re-
tanning connects at Harbin with the
Chinese Eastern and the commercial
value OF both roads will ultimately de-
pend upon their traffic arrangement and
their method of operation and co-opera-
tion. AS the system together now con-
stituteS the worlds SWiftest highway
from Europe to the Orient, the matter is
very complicated and will require much
time for final detailed adjustment.
~.@NH IL lott ~
of the Siberian road through Man.
churia, which is believed to be No 8,
Contemplates its retention by Russia,
but it is believed provides for it's po-
licing solely by Chinese police. On
account of the brigandS who infeSt
Manchuria and Mongolia. the strength
and number of which has been great
ly increased by the, war, Russia will
probably object strenuously to this, on
the ground that Chinese protection
will prove insufficient and the great
highway will be in constant danger.
From the very nature of the articles
yet remaining to be considered, there
fore it is certain that the crisis in the
negotiations is almost at hand. All
that remains seems more or less mu-
tually interdependent. If Japan. as is
generally believed, is ready to yield
upon the question of limiting Russia S
render of the interned warships, it
would only be in return for a salts
factory agreement upon the issues of
Sakhalin and indemnity.
Yet the Japanese sent cabIegrams
costing thousands of dollars to Toxic.
As a result of the conduct of negOtia-
tfons the Japanese have apparently
changed their view about formal
armistice should the basis of agree
ment be obtained. 1t is known they
gave President Roosevelt to under
stand that once the basis of a treaty
were agreed to they would be ready
to conclude a military truce. but they
now seem to be distrustful of the
Russian tactics and disposed to be-