Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1905-09-04
COVETED ISLAND To Be DIVIDED AND
RUSSIA TO PAY FOR MA|NTEN-
ANCE OF PRISONERS

sian prisoners were his last words.
They had been repeatedly reiterated
in Whites instructions, and in the
form of written reply to the Japa-
nese compromise proposal Of last
Thursday they were delivered to
Komura yesterday morning.
White went to the conference declar-
ing that ne was powerless to change
the dot of an or the cross of a in
his instructions. Emperor Nicholas's
word had been given not only to him
but to President Roosevelt, the head
of foreign state.
When Komura, therefore, first Of
fered the new basis of compromise
outlined in the Associated Press dis
patches Monday complete renuncia-
ton of indemnity coupled with prop
osition for the redemption OF Sakhalin
bunal consisting OF representatives OF
neutral powers, in fact if not in words,
the solution offered by the president,
Witte again returned non pOssumus.
Witte Expected Rupture.
Witte did not finch. He expected
a rupture and, as he expressed it after
ward, he was stunned by what hap
pened. KOmura gave way on all the
disputed points. With the prescience
that has enabled the Japanese to
gauge the mental processes OF their
adversaries on the field OF battle and
upon the sea they had realized in
advance that peace could be obtained
in no other way. They had warned
welt had also, it is declared, advised
Japan that it was better to meet the
Russian position than to take the re-
sponsibility of continuing the war for
the purpose of collecting tribute. The
mikado, at the session of the cabinet
of elder statesmen Monday had sane
toned the final concession and when
Komura yielded the rest was mere
child's play.
Friendly at the Last.
Articles 10 and IL (interned war
ships and limitation of Russia's sea
power in the far east) were with
drawn, Japan agreed that only that
portion of the Chinese eastern rail-
road south of Chatfu, the position oc-
cupied by General Oyama, should be
coded to Japan. Both sides, once the
deadlock was broken, wanted a 'just
and lasting peace, and in that spirit
it was decided to practically neutral
ize Sakhalin, each country binding it.
self not to fortify it's half of the island
and Japan assuming an obligation not
to fortify the Laperouse strait be-
tween Sakhalin and Hokkaido, which
would bar Russia's commercial route
to the Pacific.
The plen1pOtentiaries went further
They decided to add a new clause in
the nature of broad provision for
mutual commercial privileges, by
which each country will secure for the
other the benefit of a most favored
nation" clause and the open door,"
May Be Future Alliance.
AO new u CoIy, Will JIG
a wonderfully friendly document, Of
character almost to raise the suspicion
that the two countries have not only
negotiated peace, but have concluded
the basis of future alliance. There
is, however, no evidence, as rumored,
that any secret clauses are to be ap-
pended to the present treaty.
Inform the President.
Before leaving the conference build
ing Fluctuations were exchanged with
the president at oyster Bay. Both
Komura and White telegraphed. The
former confined himself to appraising
President Roosevelt of the conditions
upon which peace had been concluded.
Witte frankly laid his tribute at the
presidents feet. In his message he
said:
History will ascribe to you the