Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-31
Conference Adiourns Subject to Call Of the
PlenipotentiAries
H SIDES ARE DISSATISFIED
Russian War Party Thinks Witte Gould
Have Made Better Terms.
NO REJOICING IN FLowERY KINGDOM
Not word Allowed TO Get THROUGH
About Reception of TidInEs-
Reasons for MnSado's
Actions.

PORTSMOUTH, n. H., Aug. 3n-Mr. Den.
nison and NJ de Martens worked until 8
o'clock tonight on the draft OF the treaty.
They completed the wording Of the pre-
amble and three articles and we're discus
sing the articles relating to the cession Of
the Chinese Eastern railway when they ad-
journed until tomorrow. Up to 1 o'clock
tonight neither the Japanese emperor or
the Russian emperor had responded TO the
appeals sent by their respective plenipo-
tentiaries yesterday asking for the conclu-
sion Of an armistice.
Actual work OF drafting the treaty Of
Portsmouth" began today. II was done by
NJ. de Martens and Mr.. Dennison. acting
as legal advisers for the respective sides.
While the bases" of peace have been ac-
cepted by the plenipotentiaries. consider
able detail remains to be worked out In
the elaboration Of the articles Of the
treaty This is especially true in regard to
the articles dealing with the Chinese East
ern railway and the surrender Of the leases
OF the Liaotung peninsula and Port Arthur
and Talienwan Dalny). Mr.. Pokotnor.
the Russian minister to Peking who was
formerly manager of the Russo Chinese
bank at Peking and who has intimate
knowledge of all the details relating to
those matters, Is assisting NJ. de Martens.
Both sides Are DIssatIshed.
very anomalous situation exists as to
the impression created by the conclusion of
peace. While the outside world applauds,
in Japan there is evidently great disap-
pointment in the terms, and in Russia
where 1t would seem that there should he
universal rejoicing over the great diplo-
matte victory NJ. Witte has won. the gov
ernment seems to have received It coldly.
With the people IL will make NJ. Witte
great and popular figure and add to his
laurels, but at court evidently the very VIC
tory that NJ. Witte has achieved makes II
all the more bitterly resented. II is an
open secret that when the emperor ap-
pointed NJ. Witte chief plenipotentiary the
military party" expected him to fail. They
did not want peace and It was freely pre-
dicted in ST. Petersburg when NJ witto
left that he had been given an impossible
mission. They expected him to fail in the
negotiations or 10 make bad peace" and
either would have spelled political ruin In
stead, upon the very terms upon which
the emperor told NJ. Meyer he would make
peace and upon which the military party
did not believe it possible for peace TO be
negotiated, NJ. Witte succeeded I'm securing
a treaty honorable and under the circum-
stances favorable to Russia This has evil
IDENTIFY only exasperated his enemies the
more and intrigue is again at work to dis
credit him. Since Japan was In a concil-
liatory mood they say he made a mistake
in surrendering half of Sakhalln. Yet he
did so by the czar's orders and himself in
sists that personally he would have stuck
TO the end to his original declaration not to
cede territory or give indemnity.
No word from Japan.
Not a word or a line about the receipt OF
the news comes out OF Japan. In view Of
the situation both at Toxic and St. Peters
burg alarmists are inclined to make much
Of the fact that the minutes of yesterdays
fateful meeting have not been signed by
the plenipotentiares Of the two powers
1t is pointed out that either side could
still repudiate the agreement, but both
plenipotentiaries refuse 10 admit even the
possibility Of such a happening.
The following statement OF the japanese
argument which governed their decision
TO waive the question of indemnity can be
accepted as authoritative:
Japan realized fully she was making a
sacrifice for peace but she was looking to
the future. II was not a question of
whether the war could be successfully con-
tnued, but of whether peace was not now
already gained all she fought for II was
only "the spols Of war that remained
and having achieved the real objects of the
war she could afford to forego the spoils
rather than be placed IN the position OF
fighting for money. While japan believed
she was entitled to the spoils she felt that
her position was so strong. her successes
so complete that she could yield without
detracting from the force Of her victory
No Denomination in Russia.
ST. PETERSBURG, Aug. 31.-3I2 a. M
The news OF the successful completion OF
the preliminary negotiations for peace at
Portsmouth has been received without re-
mark, or even notable expressions either
of satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Tran
quillity is perhaps the best term with which
to convey the sentiment OF practically all
classes. including the officials.
The general pervading sentiment among
the thinking element is that Japan arrived
at a recognition Of the fact that II was
really impossible for Russia TO make any
further concessions because Il desired to
avoid arousing among the people at home
sentiments, which would constitute a more
serious menace in the future II is recog-
nized here that Japan also realized the
necessity for a lasting and stable peace,
and it is believed that the success OF the
conference was due to the fact that both
nations sincerely desired to effect an un-
derstanding.
high spirit so necessary to the success
achieved at Portsmouth will obtain until
the work Of the plenipotentiarles has been
finally concluded. To this feeling can be
ascribed the fact that the more intelligent
Russians do not regard the outcome at
Portsmouth as being altogether a diplo-
matte victory or a success won at the ex.
pense OF japan.
There are undoubtedly certain divergen.
cies Of opinion among Russians in one or
another OF the points set forth in the pre-
lminary peace understandings These d.
vergencies can easily be attributed TO the
existing Industrial conditions In Russia.
but Il Is no eXaggeration 10 say that all
classes are deeply and sincerely apprecIa-
tive of the efforts made by President Roose-
welt 10 bring about peace Furthermore the
interests Of the American people In the en-
tire matter hnd due recognition and full
appreciation here. President Roosevelt's
EFFORTS. Il is declared. supplied the lubri-
cants needed TO overcome the friction ana