The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-02
PEACE is NEAR.
Treaty Will Be Ready to Sign
Monday or Tuesday.
There Was a Slight Hitch Re-
garding Sakhalin.
JAPANESE J GAVE IN.
And All Was Arranged in Way
Mutually Satisfactory.
Article Under Discussion Will
Be Signed Today.

Portsm Outh, Sept. 2.-It is expect
ed that the text of the treaty will be
completed today Only two articles
remain to- be drafted. Two cali
graphers from the state department
are already here to begin work of.
engrossing and indications are that
the ceremony of signing the treaty
can take place Tuesday at the latest,
possibly Monday.
The statement in the Associated
Press dispatches last night that the
series of conferences which were con-
tinued until almost midnight, related
to differences over the article con-
cerning the division of Sakhalin is
fully confirmed. The japanese at
first were inclined to be obdurate but
an arrangement mutually satisfactory
was Professionally agreed to, and it is
expected to be finally signed by the
chief plenipotentiaries during the day.
The article relating to Sakhalin will
be in accordance with the original
agreement as given in these dispatches
Tuesday night, namely, mutual obliga-
ton not to fortify Sakha1in and obliga-
ton of Japan not to fortify La PerouSe
remains to be solved is involved in the
details of the evacuation of Man
churia. The troops are to be imme-
diately withdrawn, the Japanese to
the line of Mukden and the Russians
to Hardin. The details of the Subse-
quent withdrawal have not been ar
ranged.
The japanese desired that the word
describing the status of La Perouse
straits should be "open,' but the
Russians wanted it distinctly specified
that no fortif1cations should be erect
ed on Japan's side which could sup
| port war fleet or under whose guns
| a feet could operate. They did not
want the situation to be similar to
that of Gibraltar. which although
1 "open" could, if England desired, be
instantly closed. AS to the evacua-
ton of Manchuria the Japanese want
the method and time of the with
drawaI of the troops particularized
and the number of the railroad
guards which are to remain, speci-
/ fed in the bond. To permit this ques-
/ ton to be left open would be equiva-
/ lent to a tacit' understanding that
Russia was to retain her sphere of
/ influence in northern Manchuria and
Japan hers in southern Manchuria.
1t would revive in a way the very
situation which existed before the
war. Control of Manchuria might
| become a bone of contention leading
eventually to another war.
Heard of Peace in Mid Ocean.
New York Sept. 2.-How the news
of the Russian-Japanese peace agree
ment was flashed about the Atlantic
ocean and received by vessels still
several days out of port and hundreds
of miles beyond direct communication
with wireless telegraph stations on
land was reported by the steamship
La Lorraine which arrived here today.
Last Thursday, while La Lorraine was
about 500 miles east of New York, the
peace message was suddenly caught on
its wireless instruments and the sender
was learned to be the steamship
Kronprinz Wilhelm bound for Europe
and already about two days out of
- l. T
Lorraines shafts caused the steamer to
make part of the passage at reduced
speed.
Peace News Reaches Army.
Gunshu Pass, Manchuria, Sept. q
The first intimatiOn of an agreement
was printed in today's issue of the
| army organization but M. Whites mes
sage to Emperor Nicholas received the
| day before was held over From
| various sources the news of the agree
ment percolated into the communities
| of Kochiatien and Gunshu Pass, Au-
| gust 81, but comment was withheld
pending military sanction for its pub
lication and the news is yet too vaguely
| known or realized to note its effect.
! Arrangements, however, have already
been instituted for the establishment
| and maintenance of neutral zone be-
tween the armies pending their de-
| mobilization. The army has had
ample time to accustom itself to the
idea of peace. The men have followed
the discussion as closely as the delay
| ed dispatches permitted, and it is evil
dent that the idea of paying an IN
/ demnity was the most unwelcome of
| the Japanese conditions.
The foreign military attaches are
| expecting to be recalled and are ar
ranging for formal leave-taking of the
| commanders.
| The Industrial and missionary inter-
ests disorganized by the war, are al
ready preparing to resume their en-
| terprises.