The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-05

Portsmouth, n. H, September q
With the exception OF single portion
of the text, THE Treaty OF Ports
mouth was completed this evening
at conference in Baron Komura's
room and it is barely possible Ii can
be signed on Monday. 1t consists
of sixteen articles. Tonight at 0
o'clock NJ. Witte and Mr.. DeMartens
and Baron Komura and Mr.. DennIson
began the reading of the text The
treaty will not be engrossed by the
two caligraphers sent by the state
department. At the last moment 1t
was decided to have attaches of the
two missions perform this work
The articles relating to the nom
fortification of the island OF Sakhalin
and LaPourse straits and the evacua-
ton Of Manchuria were settled. Both
parties bind themselves not To fortify
the island. LaPourse is to be open"
and Japan agrees not to erect works
to command the strait The articles
relating to the evacuation of Manchu-
ria provides that the troops, immedi-
ately upon the exchange Of final ratifi-
cations, are to be withdrawn respec-
lively to the lines of Mukden and Har-
bin and the number OF Railroad
guards" in ordinary times is limited,
but provision is made for the dispatch
of troops for the protection OF the
line in case of disorders, upon condi-
ton that they are Immediately with
drawn when their mission Is finished.
There are said to be four "annexes"
| to the treaty, covering matters which
could not be elaborated i'm the treaty
itself.
The Japanese desired that the word
describing the status Of LaPourse
straits be "open" but the Russians
wanted it distinctly specified that no
fortifications should be erected on
Japan's side which could support a
| war fleet Or under whose guns n feet
could operate. They did not want the
| situation to be similar to that of Glib
| raltar, which although "open" could,
| IL England desired, be instantly closed
AS to the evacuation OF Manchuria
| the japanese wanted the method and
I tiAiC VI tic VI
particulariZed, and the number of
railroad guards" which are TO remain.
| specified in the bond. To permit this
| question to be left open would be
| equivalent to tacit understanding
that Russia was to retain her sphere
of influence" i'm northern and Japan
hers i'm southern Manchuria. It would
revive in a way the very situation
which existed before the war. Con-
troll of Manchuria might become a bone
| of contention leading eventually to an
| other war.
| The interruption of communication
with Japan may delay slightly the
signing of the treaty The Associa-
ted Press can state definitely that no
messages have reached the Japanese
plenipotentiaries for four days, and
they are now proceeding under their
| general instructions. A cable has been
received from the japanese consul at
Hong Kong saying that he could not
tell when communication would be
restored. The typhon, which inter-
rupted communication. was very Sc
we're, but ii Is not known whether IL
effected both the land and submarine
lines. Baron Komura has not yet de-
cided whether, upon the engrossment
of the treaty he VIII assume the respon-
sibility Of signing it without direct au-
| thoriZation. If he does not. however.
the delay would be only n matter of
two or three days as special steamer
could 60 from Shanghai to Nagasaki
In fifty hours. The Japanese say the
Emperor's failure to send a message
of thanks to President Roosevelt Is un-
doubtedly due to the interruption OF
communication.