Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-08-18
ENJOYS PASS OVER
DISPUTED POINT
COMMISSIONERS FAIL TO AGREE
ON ARTICLE FIVE AND TAKE
UP NEXT ONE.

RUSSIA GIVES UP
LIAOTUNG LEASES
Satisfactory Decision Reached on Pro-
vision of Article Four = Main
Points to Be Taken Up Last
Hopes for Treaty Continue.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 16.-Article
four, of the peace conditions under
consideration by the Russian and
Japanese plenipotentiaries, was agreed
upon during the forenoon of the peace
conference Tuesday. Consideration
also was given to article five, but in
the course of discussion difference of
views developed. and it was de-
cided to take note of the opposing
opinions, and proceed to the consider
alton of other articles. No further
agreements had been reached when the
conference adjourned shortly before
two o'clock, to resume at three
o'clock.
Article four relates to the surrender
of Russian leases on the Liaotung
peninsula, and article five, which was
passed over on account of differences
to the cession of Sakhalin island to
Japan.
While covering the surrender of the
lease of Liaotung peninsula and the
Blonde and Elliott islands, which are
included in the leasehold, article four
does not touch Port Arthur and Dali
ney, which are covered in separate
article-Japan, it is understood, in
ststs, at least for the present, upon the
occupation Of these two points, The
question of Russian government and
private property will probably be
dealt with by mixed commissions, as
is customary at the conclusion of a
war when fortified cities pass from
the jurisdiction of one country to an.
other
The plenipotentiaries reached an
agreement on article four without
protracted discussion. Article i've,
concerning the cession Of Sakhalin is
land. was then taken up, but an un.
Outstanding on this subject seeming
impossible. the discussion was post
poned and the ENJOYS proceeded to
consider article six, which deals with
q question of little Importance, and on
which 1t is expected that thorough
understanding will be easily reached.
Diplomacy Averts Crisis.
At the morning session of the confer
ence. which began shortly before ten
o'clock, consideration of article four,
which relates to the Liaotung pen.
insula and the surrender of the
Russian leases, was begun. AS
the cession Of Sakhalin is the
fifth article, the natural deduction
would be that Tuesday would witness a
collision and possibly a deadlock. But
1t appeared more likely that the oues-
ton Of the cession of the island. upon
which neither side is now prepared to
yield, when reached by mutual agree.
ment, would be postponed until the end.
The policy Of each side, as understood.
being to maneuver to place the respon-
sibility OF rupture on the other, 1t is
regarded as practical certainty that
neither will insist at this juncture upon
precipitating situation which will
decide this issue.
The plan is almost certain to pass over
the disputed articles and see how ia,
an agreement is posslble-then to re
turn and attack the obstacles This is
the logical and general method of dip
lomacy. 1t has the great advantage Of
bringing the plenipotentiaries to rap
prochement upon every possible poin,
and clearly defining the points of di
yergence. narrowing the issues which
divide the negotiations to the fewes,
possible number. If, for instance
the disputed points were reduced to
TWO, as 1t is considered certain they
eventually will be, the plenipotentiar
les would be enabled to bargain O,
compromise, to offer proposition anG
counter-proposition. If, in the end
agreement were found to be impos
sible, the world would know and be
able to form it's judgment of the
merits of the respective contentious
and place the blame for the prolonga
ton OF the carnage in the far east.
Hopes Of Success Strong.
The very fact that ultimately the
world will be enabled to fix the re
sponsibility for rupture, that in the
final analysis the two countries are
on trial before the public opinion O
the world, constitutes the main hop,
Of a successful outcome of the nego
tiations.
Article three. which lie agreed to, /
developed Tuesday was incorrect,
stated to be the cession of the Chi
nese-Eastern railroad. That articl
comes later. The third article per
tanned to the restoration OF the Chi
nese administration in the province o
Manchuria and was necessary an,
natural sequence to article two. provid
Ing for mutual evacuation and MI
tual recognition of Chinese territorial
integrity and the open door" polio
for which American diplomacy ha
fought. The mistake was due to tn
fact that the railroad question il
volved generally in the question Q
the restoration of Chinese admins
tration in Manchuria was touched.
Two Killed by lightning.
Peru, Ind, Aug. 16.-James Showle
and Ernest Campbell, both youn
men, drove into a barn near Wyn
station early Tuesday to escape
storm. Lightning struck the barr
LS11;no both man Tho bar