Fergus County argus., 1905-09-01
GREAT WAR IS
NOW WATANE END
Plenipotentiaries Of Japan and Rus
sia at Last Reach an Agreement
at Portmouth.
DUE TO RoosEvELT's EFFORTS
Japanese Show a Generous Spirit at
the End and Waive All indem.
nity-The Treaty.

bloody war between Japan and Rus
sia is ended. The terms of peace
were agreed upon by NJ. Witte and
Baron kOmura at the session of the
conference this morning, and this af-
ternoon preliminary arrangements for
an armistice were concluded and the
actual work of framing the treaty
of Portsmouth" was by mutual agree
ment turned over to Mr.. Demartens,
Russia's greatest international law
yer, and Mr.. Dennison, who for Is
years has acted as the legal advisor
of the Japanese foreign office.
The treaty is expected to be COM
pleted by the end Of the week.
This happy conclusion Of the confer
ence, which a week ago would have
been shipwrecked had it not been for
the heroic intercession Of President
Roosevelt, was sudden and dramatic.
For the sake Of peace, Japan, with
the magnanimity of a victor, at the last
moment yielded everything still at is
sue. Russia refused to bulge from
the ultimatum Emperor Nicholas had
given to President Roosevelt through
Abassador Meyer. No indemnity un-
der any guise but an agreement to
divide Sakhalin and reimburse Japan
for the maintenance of prisoners were
his last words. They had been re
cd in n.
structiOns, and on a request for a
written reply to the Japanese com
promise proposal of last Wednesday
they were delivered to Baron komu
ra this morning. Mr.. Witte went to
the conference declaring he was pow.
erless to change the dot of an ~
or the cross of a 1T" in his instruc-
tions. Emperor Nicholas word had
been given not only to him but to
President Roosevelt, the head of for
eign state.
Psychological Moment.
When Baron Komura, therefore
first offered the new basis OF compro
mise outlined in the Associated Press
dispatches last night (the complete
remuneration of indemnity, coupled
with a proposition for the redemption
of Sakhalin at price to be fixed by
a mixed tribunal, consisting of repre-
sentatives of the neutral powers, IN
fact if not in words, the solution
offered by the presidenD. Mr.. Witte
again returned a nonpossumus. l,
was what Mr.. Witte termed in his IN
terview with the Associated Press
the psychological moment Mr.
L.
ture as he expressed it afterward ne
was stunned by what happened.
On All Disputed Points.
Baron Komura gave way on all the
disputed points. With the prescienct
that has enabled the Japanese lt
gauge the mental processes OF theil
adversaries on the field of battle ant
upon the sea, they had realized II
advance that peace could be obtained
in no other way. They had warned
their government. President Roose
welt had also, it is believed advised
,Japan that it would be better to NEE
the Russian position than to take tn
| responsibility of continuing the wa
for the purpose of collecting indemni
ty. The mikado at the advice OF tn
cabinet and elder statesmen yesteI
| day. had sanctioned the final conces
sion. When Baron Komura yielde'
the rest was mere childs play.
For Lasting Peace.
Articles 10 and II Cinterned wal
ships and the limitation OF Russia
sea power in the far east) were with
drawn. Japan agreed that only tina
portion of the Chinese Eastern RAJ
| road south of Chantfu, the positio
occupied by Oyama, should be cede
to Japan. Both sides, once the deat
lock was broken, wanted a "just an
lasting" peace, and in that respect
was decided to practically neutraliz
Sakhalin; each country binding itsel
not to fortify it's half of the islant
and Japan assuming an obligation nc
to fortify Laperouse strait, betwee
Sakhalin and Hokkaido, which woul
bar Russia's commercial route to tn
Pacific.
The plenipotentiaries went furtf
er. They decided to add new claus
for mutual commercial privileges b
Nhich each country will secure tn
benefit "of the most favored nation
In the nature of broad provisio
clause, and "the open door,"
A Friendly Document.
The new treaty therefore will b
wonderfully friendly document, {
character almost to raise the su
picion that the two countries ha,
not only negotiated peace, but haH
concluded the basis of a future all
ance.
There is. however, no evidence.
rumOred, that any secret clauses al
to be appended to the present treat
. Before leaving the conference bull
ing fluctuations were exchanged Wi
the president at Oyster Bay. Bo
, Baron Komura and NJ. Witte telegrap
: ed. The former confined himself
| apprising Mr. Roosevelt of the cont
2 tions upon which peace had been co
: cluded. Mr.. Witte frankly laid
I tribute at the presidents feet. In
! message he said:
/ History will ascribe to you I
e glory" and added the expression
|. Russia's hearty appreciation of t
d presidents generous initiative"
e Mr.. Roosevelt replied with wor
4 of thanks and congratulations.
5 The Jubiiation Began.
Then the jubilatiOn began.