The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-09-06
A ENJOYS AGREE.
JAPANESE MAKE LIBERAL. cOScrs.
SIONS Upon IMPORTANT POINTS.
Victors Surprise the vanquished By Con.
ceding Russian Demands.

PORTSMOUTH,, Aug. 29.-The long
and bloody war between Japan and
Russia is ended. The terms of peace
were agreed upon by NJ. White and
Baron komura a the session of the
conference this morning, and this at.
ternoon preliminary arrangements for
an armistice were concluded and the
actual work of framing the treaty of
Portsmouth" a by mutual agree.
ment turned over to Mr.. Demartens,
Russia's great international lawyer,
aud Mr.. Dennison, who for % years
has acted as legal adviser of the
Japanese foreign Office. The treaty is
expected to be completed by the end
of the week.
This happy conclusion of the con.
ference, which a week ago would have
been shipwrecked had it not been for
the heroic i~ntercession of President
Roosevelt, was sudden and dramatic.
For the sake of peace, Japan, with the
magnanimity of a victor, at the last
moment yielded everything still at is.
sue. Russia refused to bulge from
the ultinatum Emperor Nicholas had
given to President Roosevelt through
Ambassador Meyer. No indemnity
under any guise but an agreement to
divide Sakhalin and reimburse Japan
for the maintenance of prisoners were
his last words. They had been re-
peatedly reiterated in MIR. Whites in
structions. and on a request for a
written reply to the Japanese com.
promise proposal of last Wednesday
they were delivered Baron Komura
this morning.
Baron komura gave way on all the
disputed points. With the prescience
that has enabled the japanese to
guage the mental processes OF their
adversaries on the field of battle and
upon the sea, they had realized in ad.
vance that peace could be obtained in
no other way. They had warned their
government, President Roosevelt had
also, it is believed, advised Japan
that 1t would be better to meet the
Russian position than to take the re.
sponsibility of continuing the war for
the purpose of collecting indemnity.
The mikado, at the advice of the cabi.
net and elder statesmen yesterday,
had sanctioned the final concessions.
Articler 10 and II (interned war.
ships and the Limitation of Russia's
sea power in the far east we're with.
drawn. Japan agreed that only that
portion of the Chinese Eastern rail.
road south of Chantfu, the position
occupied by Oyama, should be ceded
to Japan. Both sides, once the dead.
lock was broken, wanted a s'iust and
lasting" peace, and in that respect it
was decided to practically neutr alize
sakhalin: each country binding itself
not to fortify its half OF the island.
The plenipotentiaries went further.
They decided to add a new clause in
the nature of a broad provision for
mutual commercial privileges by
which each country will secure the
benefit ''of the most favored nation
clause. and ''the open door,"
The new treaty therefore will be a
wonderfully friendly document, Of a
character almost to raise the suspi-
cion that the two countries have not
only negotiated peace, but have cor.
cluded the basis of q future alliance.
There Is, however, no evidence, as
rumored, that any secret clauses are
to be appended to the present treaty.