Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-30
Y.M.C.A. Building, Cor 18th and Douglas.

sociated Press dispatches from Portsmouth
brought the first news Of the results of the
peace conference. 1t came as an electric
surprise as official and diplomatic circles
had been practically without hope OF
successful issue of the negotiations. The
issue became known only to a comparatively
few persons up to midnight outside of
diplomatic circles among a few officials
and in the newspaper offices, consequently
there was no expression Of public feeling
At this hour there is absolutely nothing to
indicate even to close observer that the
eighteen months Of war is at an end.
Wherever the news was known surprise
and even amazement was expressed that
Japan had so completely met the Russian
demands, but the reception Of the news so
far as it had gone up to the time this
dispatch was filed was calm and even apa-
thetic.
The Foreign office was dark all night,
thus giving no evidence that the news had
been officially received there.
Comment in London.
LONDON, Aug 29.-The following sum-
mary, purporting to give the exact nature
OF the work accomplished and the broad
characteristics of the latest tendencies
which underle the endeavors of either
e.
The dispatch says:
Speaking generally a four-fold purpose
may be discerned in the twelve historic
proposals carefully drafted by the japan
ese diplomatists:
First-To restore the entire set Of polit-
ical conditions which the treaty of Shimo-
noseki was calculated to establish
Second-To remove counteTGSt or assimi-
late the disturbing factors political eco
nomical and military which have come into
existence.
disturbing factors created by the aggressive
policy of Count Muravief and Count
FOurth-To play the enviable role of a
chivalrous prince in releasing the Chinese
and Corean princes from the power of the
sorcerers' spell and in helping Europe and
the civilized world to rights too long with
held.
Russia on the other hand, naturally
along to restore that which Is not its own,
but had resented the attempt on the part
Of Japan to humiliate it by compelling It to
Secondly, It declined to allow the wording
of the treaty clauses to convey the I'M
preston that Japan was debating to it,
while it was obeying. Hence, the Russian n
ENJOYS insisted that their Japanese col
leagues should expressly adopt identical,
self-denying ideas, which, according to the
original draft OF the clauses of the treaty,
Russia, and only Russia, was to sign
Thirdly, instead of allowing Japan TO adj
judicate for itself the honor of champion
ing China and Corea, II openly took their
part, insisting during the discussion that
their international status had been fairly
reckoned with and endeavorlng to revive
rights Of theirs which still exist in theory,
but are dead in practice.
Lastly, whenever in dealing with any
clause Russia made up its mind not to dis
pute the substance of the demand preferred
1t still insisted on the proposal being so
worded that 1t did not appear to sign away
! rights other than it's own, nor connive at a
| future policy of absorption which It was
unable to endorse.
Arguments of Parties.
! The dispatch then gives what purports
! to be the arguments used by the plenipo-
| tentiaries in discussing the clauses of the
draft of the treaty as follows:
Thus, the first clauses demand the recog-
| milton by Russia of the preponderance OF
! Japan's political military and economic in
! terests in Corea and an understanding that
| Russia would refrain from meddling with
| any measures which Japan might deem
| necessary to adopt In Corea for purposes
| OF direction, protection or control.
After giving the alleged arguments the
dispatch says:
| The Russian plenipotentiary openly de-
I clared that while making large concessions
/ for the cause of peace he would consent Ia
/ no form of words implying that Russia by
assent or connivance became party to the
policy of the absorption of a weaker coun.
/ try by stronger. He obtained Baron
| Komura's consent to the limitation OF
/ Japan's freedom Of action in Corea 70 the
following extent