The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-29
Release Of the Russian Prisoners and
Elaboration of the Treaty.
Great Demonstration at Portsmouth
When the News Was Announced.
Mr.. Witte Was Greatly Surprised by
the Sudden Developments.

kopek but we obtain half of Sakhalin
now in their possession. At this morn
1ngs meeting L presented my written
proposition which was the Russian ul-
tlmatum. 1t was accepted by the Japa-
neSe. l was amazed. Until l was in
the conference room 1 did not think
what would happen. 1 could not antici-
pate such great and happy issue"
VanderIip's Visit.
1T was a psychological crisis. 1
had made up my mind not to strike out
a letter of the ultimatum l submitted.
So far as 1 was concerned it was end
ed. But could not tell how it would
work on the Japanese mind. 1t was a
complete victory for u.s. At this
afternoons session." Mr.. Witte added,
ali the delegates will participate.
Now that the general lines of the peace
have been agreed on the details will
have to be considered and discussed
by the competent persons who have
accompanied the plenipotentiaries Al
though a question of detail, they can
include matters of great importance.
which Baron Komura and myself have
already proposed to our emperors. The
release of the prisoners also will come
up Immediately
Mr.. Witte, continuing his conversa-
ton, said he should like to explain the
visit of Mr. Vanderlip last night in or
der to prevent false statements and
Misrepresentation regarding it.
see me, not only to speak of the situa-
tion in general but also of money. mat
ters and of the possibility of Russia
floating loan in the United States. I
told him two things if Russia must
continue the war there is at the COM
mand of the treasury a reserve fund of
one billion roubles in gold which I ac-
cumulated when ] was minister of
finance. That fund is to protect paper
issues but could be used and we would
not be obliged to borrow at unaccept-
able rates. If l make peace l told told
him, from America France, Germany
and England would come a food of
offers of money Therefore if peace
comes it would become only a question
whether Mr.. Vanderlip's offers were
preferable to others"
The Japanese envoys did not come
back to the hotel during recess. They
remained for luncheon at the navy
yard.
Roosevelt Hears the News.
Oyster Bay, Aug. 29-President
Roosevelt received the news that the
peace ENJOYS had reached an agree
ment in his library at Sycamore Hill.
He was engaged at the very moment on
some matters with Secretary Loeb re-
garding the peace negotiations. The
intimation of the agreement came to
him from the Associated Press in the
form of a bulletin announcing that the
ENJOYS had agreed on all points which
hitherto had been the subject of differ
ence. While the president had been
hopeful that such an agreement would
be reached, he was surprised. His be-
lief had been that the arrangement if
made at all would not be made prob
ably before tomorrow. He expressed
to his family his qualification that
peaceful solution of the difficulties had
been reached. He excused himself,
however, from making any statement
formal in nature regarding the action
of the conference until he should have
been informed officially of that action.
Official confirmation of the report had
not been received yet but it is expected
momentarily.
President Is Notified OmciaIIy.
Oyster Bay, Aug. 29.-Presfdent
Roosevelt received official information
of the peace agreement at 2:2O this
afternoon. The information reached
him in the form of an official cipher
dispatch from Portsmouth, 1t was
sent at the instance of Baron Komura.
The telegram said the plenipotenti-
aries of Japan had withdrawn their
claim for reimbursement of war ex-
penses and that an agreement had
been reached as to a partition of
Sakhalin. It stated the ENJOYS will
now proceed with a discussion of de-
tails.