Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-30
DRAFTING THE TREATY
Great Strain at Portsmouth
Comes to End.
ALL Is NOW SERENE
M. DE MARTENS AND MIR. DENIM
SON AT WORK.
First Meeting Held at O'Clock This
n-Plenipotentiaries
Resting.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H.. August 30.-The
great strain under which plenipotentiaries.
attaches. correspondents and summer
guests have been laborng for three weeks
Is over. Peace is concluded. Only the ac-
tral framing of the treaty and the formal
tiles of its signature remain. 1t has been
decided that the room in the conference
building where the plenipotentiaries yester-
day came to agreement shall be the scene
of the final act in the Treaty of Ports
mouth" which Is to put an end to this his
toric war. The plenipotentiaries yesterday
adjourned subject to call, and unless some
unexpected dispute arises there Will not be
another formal meeting until the draft of
the treaty is complete. And even should
controversy occur 1t would not necessarily
compel a formal meeting, the plenipoten-
tarfes living under the same roof are in
position to consult freely either in person
or by letter.
NJ. De Martens and Mr.. Dennison, acting
respectively for Russia and Japan, have al
ready begun the work of drafting the treaty
and their first meeting will be held this ar-
ternoon at o'clock at the navy yard.
Exchange Of Ratifcations.
Mr.. De Martens is receiving valuable as
sistance from Mr.. .Pokoiloff who, on account
of his thorough familiarity with the whole
far eastern situation and especially the
leases of Port Arthur and the Lao Tung
peninsula and all matters affecting the
Chinese Eastern railroad. is particularly
qualified to render aid
When the signatures are attached the ex-
change of ratihcatons by the emperors Of
Russia and Japan alone will remain. EN-
peror Nicholas in the credentials given TO
NJ. Witte formally pledged his word to ap-
prove any treaty his penipotentiary would
sign. While the credentials of Baron Ko-
mura. under regular japanese procedure,
reserved to the mikado the right to sane
ton the treaty, that is regarded a mere
formality.
The Russians continue to regard the
agreement reached yesterday as a wonder
fui diplomatic victory. The highest Rus
sian authority speaking of what would have
had happened If peace had not been made
said: Consider the military situation from
the Russian standpoint in the most favor
able light. Assume that the Russian arms
would have been successful. Lnevitch vic
torious might have forced Oyama back to
Lao Yang. possibly to Haicheng But with
the Russian fleet destroyed he could never
venture into the Lao Tung peninsula. We
could not have recrossed the Yalu into
Korea. We could never have retaken SAX
halin. Practically obtain in this treaty
what would have had to buy with vic
tories. Had defeats come-who knows what
else we should in the end have been obliged
TO yield"
Much to Be Written.
Much interesting history behind the con-
ference remains TO be written. No one yet
knows exactly what considerations induced
the Tokyo government to waive all demands
for cash. While il is known that the Pres
ident was continuing his labors to the last
1t is not possible TO make any definite state
ment as to whether at the end he advised
Japan to forego entirely punitive demands
1t can be stated, however. on the authority
Of the japanese mission that he was orig
inally of the opinion that Japan should not
demand indemnity. and it Is therefore pos
sible that he may have urged this view at
Tokyo when he found that Russia was OBJ
durate. In his communication to Emperor
Nicholas. through Ambassador Meyer last
week. while the japanese were Insisting
upon indirect remuneration for the cost OF
the war, 1t is known, as previously stated
In the Associated Press dispatches that he
urged upon the czar the expediency of ac-
cepting compromise by which the re-
demption price OF the north half OF Sakha-
lin should be determined by some sort of
impartial board or commission
All the senseless gossip about Emperor
William throwing his influence against
peace Is now completely exploded. In ad-
dltion TO the authorized denial sent by
Prince Won BuelOw to the Associated Press
the Russian ENJOYS have received informa-
ton direct from Peterhof showing that EN-
car with as much earnestness as the Presi-
dent.
Flood of kilograms
The flood OF kilograms which began IN
pour In upon the plenipotentiaries as soon
as the news was flashed to the world yes-
terday continued all night and all day
From all parts OF the globe they kept COM
Ing. Practically all were full OF praise and
congratula lions. hut occasionally tn re were
do nf arh for. .b,
mirers OF japan and Russia in America
fairly bombarded the heads of the respect
I've missions Neither side would give out
the messages.
No final arrangements about an armistic,
have yet been agreed 20. MIR. Takahra said
today that soon the treaty is signed
he and Baron KOmurI viii go to oyster
Bay to thank the President personally The
members OF the japanese colony today are
getting over their disappointment. recog-
nlzing that peace even without money re-
enumeration. is better than Coutinu tion of
the war.
Unless there is a change of progstm the
treaty OF peace between Russia and Japan
will be signed in the navy general store
at the navy yard. where all the sessions
of the conference have been held. In this
case II Will go down in history as the
treaty of Portsmouth"
The report that the plenipotentiaries
hav formally agreed that such shall be
it's name Is. however. incorrect.
The name of treaty has rarely. IL ever
been the subject of official agreement
The treaty takes it's title from the place
where II Is signed. Still, so mindful are
the plenipotentiaries of the Presidents
part in TIE work of yesterday that IL is
the belief here that he may be consulted
informally before final decision is reach
ed regarded the place Of signature. Def
erence undoubtedly will be given to such
preferences ii any. as the President may
have in the matter
II is recalled that in the preliminary ne
gotiations il was the Understanding that
wherever the conference for climatic rea-
sons might bH forced to hold its fassions
the treaty shcuid ore result. was TO be
signed in -. "tp%toa. Whether this plan
will be au.1! "rt " / fe en- ! in a meas
ure upon g., which the drafting of
the conveu ti,n viii require. 1t also will
depend vi on %he.hcr Pres dent Roosevelt
responds to the general wish here that he
shall witness the historic event If the
President consents to be present the plen-
ipotentiaries will undoubtedly adjourn to
whatever place best suits his convenience
Rav