The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-08-18

PORTSMOUTH,, n. IL, August 1O.-Ine
prospects of peace are distinctly
brighter tonight. The plenipotentiaries
are laboring with a seriousness and
earnestness which leave not the slight
est doubt that both are anxious to con-
clude a treaty. Though the main points
remain to be contested and the pleni-
potentiaries of each side speak as
though the conference would go to
pieces unless the other side gives way,
the spirit Of compromise is in the air.
When he returned to the hotel tonight,
NJ. Witte who was tired out with his
hard days work, said:
~ am doing all 1 can do for peace
OF the eight articles we have already
considered | have yielded seven No
other statesman in Russia would have
what have done upon my own respon-
sibility''
From authoritive source it is now
possible to forecast with a fair degree
of accuracy that the crisis will come on
next Monday. Articles and dealing
with the fate of the Chinese eastern
railroad having been disposed today,
there remains in addition to the ces-
sion of Sakhalin, which was passed
ever, the question of indemnity which
comes up tomorrow as Article D. the
limitation of Russias sea power in the
far east, the surrender of the interned
warships and the grant rights on the
literal of Vladivostok
Articles Z and 8 were disposed of to-
day, the former ''in principle" the lat
ter unanimously" according to the Of
fetal bulletins. Article I provides for
the cession to China Of the branch of
the Chinese eastern railroad running
south from Harbin to Port Arthur and
Dalny, and with a branch line connect
ing at New Chwang with the Shan Hal
Kwan-Tien Tsin road.
Article provides for the retention
by Russia of the line through Northern
Manchuria, which forms the connect
ing link of the main line of the trans
Siberian and the Usurri with its ter
mini at Vladivostok and Harborovsk.
From both sides the Associated
Press is Informed that the acceptance
''in principle" of article only means
that certain points remain to be elabO-
rated, not that a dispute still exists.
But this may possibly be only a con-
venient method of postponing until the
struggle the acceptance Of an article
which could be used in the ultimate
compromise. Russia by the acceptance
Of these two articles in connection with
articles =, 3, and 6. surrenders every
vestige Of her ambition in Manchuria.
She closes the door to the warm wealth
er, ice free port of Dalny, upon which
she lavished her millions and retains
only as a commercial road the link Of
the railroad connecting her European
possessions with the maritime pro-
vlnces upon the Pacific. The right to
police it with Russian Or railroad
guards is given up and it's protection
will become the duty of China.
There were persistent rumors about
the hotel late tonight that several pow
ers, including the Washington govern
ment are bringing pressure to bear
upon Japan to forego 1.-The cost of war
and content herself with such other
compensation as she can secure out
of the railroad. the property in Port
Arthur and Dalny, and the cost of the
maintenance of the Russian prisoners.
in Japan" this theory believing that
Russia will eventually agree to cede sa
kahalin which is now potentially con-
uuered territory. This is undoubtedly
the line of ultimate compromise, if
compromise there is to be.
The Associated Press can state au-
rot firoju tbaf r1aifhar fbo Question
of making Vladivostok an ''open port
or the Amur river an international wa
terway as some papers have stated is
included in the japanese terms, which
as developments have demonstrated,
| were given correctly by The Associat-
ed Press the day they were submitted
by Japan. Japan will make stiff fight
for the interned Russian warships.
OFFICIAL STATEMENTS OF DAYS
PROCEEDINGS.
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