The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-08-23
PORTSMOUTH CONFERENCE.
Progress of Negotiations BY The
Peace Commissioners.
REFERRED TO HIGHER POWERS
Disagreement Causes Suspension Of
Negotiations Till Further Orders
Are Received.

twelve points which the peace en-
yoys at Portsmouth had under con.
sideration there was a halt in the ne.
gotiations until the commissioners
could communicate with their home
governments.
The peace ENJOYS reached the
question of indemnity, and after dis.
cussion without any agreement laid
1T aside to be taken up later, along
with the question of the cession of
Sakhalin, which previously was sim
ilarly treated.
Three of the 12 conditions of the
japanese were disposed of at the
peace conference Monday. The ses-
sion lasted from half past o'clock
In the morning until 6 o'clock at
night, with recess for luncheon.
The three articles" as they are
officially designated in the brief COM
munlcations authorized to be given to
the press, which were disposed of
are in substance as follows:
First-Russia's recognition of
Japan's "preponderating influence
Russia henceforth agrees is outside o.
her sphere of influence, Japan bind
ing herself to recognize the suzerainty
of the reigning family, but with the
right to give advice and assistance
to improve the civil administration of
the empire.
Second-Mutual obligation to
evacuate Manchuria, each to surrend-
er all special privileges in that pro
vince; mutual obligation to respect
the territorial integrity" of China
and to maintain the principle of
equal opportunity for the commerce
and industry of all nations in that
province (open door,.
Third-The cession to China of the
Chinese Eastern railroad from Har-
bin southwark.
Two more of the ~ articles. Nos. 4
and 6, were disposed of Tuesday.
Article A consists of mutual pledges
to observe the integrity of China and
the policy. of the open door" for the
commerce of all nations Article 6
covers the surrender of the Russian
leases to the Liaotung peninsula, Port
Arthur, Dalny and the Blonde and
Elliott islands.
To article A both parties gave ready
assent, and the official statement of
the adoption OF that article took care
to state it was agreed to Unanimous
ly."
Article 3, the consideration of which
was postponed until later, provides
for the cession of the island of
Sakhalin. Discussion appearing use
less at this stage on account of the
firm negative given in the Russian
reply, it was decided on motion of the
Japanese, to defer its discussion,
thus revealing the japanese intention
of postponing to the end the life and
death struggle.
This is the usual procedure follow
ed in diplomatic negotiations, enabl-
ing the negotiations to come to ac-
cord upon all possible points before
tackling the crucial issues The fact
the Russians acquiesced in the propo-
sition that the world should not ac-
cuse them of being responsible for
precipitating the break. If break is to
be, and wrecldng the conference.
This in itself is a hopeful sign.
The following statement was issued
for the peace ENJOYS:
''In the morning sitting of August
16, the conference has taken up the
discussion of article Z. The dis
cussion not having been finished the
conference took a recess at | o'clock.
The session was resumed at 8.
"At the afternoon session of the
conference articles and s were dis
cussed; article was settled in prin-
ciple and article accepted unani-
mously. The conference at $50 ad-
journed until $3.50 tomorrow morn.
ing"
1t was officially explained that
there remained not difference to
be adjusted on article T. but only
the elaboration of single point.
Article Z is the cession of the |
branch of the Chinese Eastern rail. |
road from Hardin southwark, and ar.
ticle 8 provides for the retention by
Russia of the portion of the line |
through northern Manchuria, con-
Meeting the Trans-Siberian road with /
Vladivostok.
In the discussion of the second |
article covering the evacuation of !
Manchuria) it is positively stated /
that Russia won a victory Baron |
Komura, so it is declared, wanted to |
limit the obligation to evacuate Man /
churia and to surrender special priv
ilege in the province to Russia, where !
as M. Witte contended that the OBJ. |
legation for evacuation and the sur
render of special privileges should be /
mutual and that the evacuation of the /
troops should take place concurrent /
ly.
Walter Damrosch, the well-known !
orchestra leader, has been offered the |
recently created chair of music at the |
University Of California, with a salary
of $4,000 year.