The Irish standard., 1905-08-12
FIRST SESSION OF
Peace PARLEY HELD
ENJOYS RETIRE TO MAYNARD,
EXCHANGE CREDENTIALS
AND ADJOURN.
DECIDE ON PROGRAMME
FOR THE CONFERENCE
During Negotiations French and Eng
lish Languages Will Be Used
Meeting Lasts an Hour-Nothing
of Importance Done.

OF importance Done.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 1O.-The
first session of the peace conference
between the Russian and Japanese
plenipotentiaries mas been concluded.
The meeting lasted about one hour,
during which time the credentials of
each mission were examined re-
spectively by the other. The creden-
tials were found to be entirely satis-
factory. The only other business trans
acted was the agreement upon a pro-
gramme for future sessions. After the
conference the ENJOYS spent some
time in their respective Offices. leaving
the general stores building They re-
turned to Newcastle by launch. Baron
Komura and Mr.. Takahira were the
first to leave the navy yard landing.
The Russians followed shortly after
wards, the trip to the hotel landing be-
ing made by the Russians and the
Japanese in separate boats
That Mr.. Witte should have brought
his credentials to the conference, and
Braon Kemura should have left his at
the Hotel Wentworth, appears to have
been due to misunderstanding Baron
Komura thinking that Wednesdays
session would be entirely informal, as,
indeed. it was, and. therefore, that it
would not be necessary to take the
documents.
Agree on Languages.
The ENJOYS have agreed that the
English and French languages shall
be used jointly, and that the official
minutes of the meetings shall be re-
corded in both languages. The Off
cial details of the daily programme
have not yet been made public A
correspondent was received by one of
the plenipotentiaries within ten min
utes after the mission returned to New
castle, and in reply to questions about
the conference, he said: "You can
say that Wednesdays meeting was en-
tirely satisfactory. so far as it went.
Our next meeting will be held Thurs
day. Provided all goes we'll, we will
get down to business then.
Terms were not discussed at
Wednesdays meeting"
Mr.. Sato Issues Statement.
On behalf of Baron Komura and
Mr.. Takahira, Mr.. Sato handed out the
following official statement regarding
Wednesdays meeting: wednesdays
meeting was informal for the purpose
of settling the method of procedure.
and in that meeting it was decided
that formal meetings will commence
Thursday. Meetings will be held twice
a day. one from $3.50 to 1890 and an
other from three to $50 or six o'clock
in the afternoon, subject to modifica-
tions as may be agreed upon later.
No serious business was transacted at
Wednesdays session"
Jap ENJOYS Slip Away.
Shortly after noon the ENJOYS came
out of the naval stores building, indi-
eating that Wednesdays meeting had
ended. Baron Komura and Mr. Taxa
hira appeared first and passed directly
down the gravel path to the navy yard
landing, where launch was in wait
ing to take them to New Castle. The
Russian commissioners followed the
Japanese moment later, taking
second launch for the four-mile trip
to their hotels. Upon their arrival
there they entered by private door.
way and it was some time before the
fact of their return became generally
known.
Simply Exchanged Credentials.
Within ten minutes after the missions
returned correspondent who was re-
ceived by one of the plenipotentiaries
was given the following information:
"You can say that Wednesdays meet
ing was entirely satisfactory SO far
as it went; we exchanged credentials,
but please do not write nonsense about
credentials The plenipotentiaries and
the president have known from the
outset that the plenipotentiaries of both
governments came clothed with plenary
powers and the anxiety on this sub
ject has never been shared by the en-
voys on either side.
No Terms Discussed.
'Our next meeting will be held
Thursday morning. Provided all goes
we'll we will get down to business
then" "Has either side committed
itself about terms?" the envoy was
asked. "No, terms were not dis
cussed at Wednesdays meeting"
1t was also stated that it had beer
agreed that the English and French
languages should be used jointly ant
that the official minutes of the meet
ings should be recorded in both Ian
guages. While the plenipotentiaries
did not get down to serious work, they
felt well satisfied with what they &C,
complished Wednesday,. Extreme cor
diality characterized the session. At
Wednesdays meeting Baron Komura
spoke japanese, his secretary, Mr..
Honda, translating it into French,
while Mr.. Witte spoke entirely in
French. The expression used by the
plenipotentiaries is that "the creden.
tialS were exchanged"