Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-13
THREE SESSIONS HELD
SITUATION ENLIVENED BY MANY
CONFLICTING REPORTS.
Possibilities of Success Of the Confer
ence-Personal Gossip Of Members
of the Commission.

that time the conference has been in ses-
sion three times. Credentials have been
shown and duly examined
The Japanese have delivered their condi-
tions and the Russians have made theiF
reply.
The next move must be made by Baron
Kcnlura and his answer is anxiously await
ed That message Is expected to declae
whether It is to be peace or war.
The greatest surprise at this conference
has been the rapid manner in which the
euvoys have carried on the negotiations
Every detail has been carried out In a
prompt bustLesS-lke manner altei 'ile III
day.
If Raron Komura had taken his creden-
tiaIs TO the navy yard on Wednesday morn
Ing as was expected, the proceedings woulo
have been a day ahead and decision ar
rived at today instead of its being post
pCned until Monday.
Real Issue of Conference.
There is little doubt here that the real
,ssua oF the conference will center upon
the Indemnity and Sakhalin." The clauses
regarding fishing rights and naval lfmlta-
tfon are presumed TO have been inserted
with the idea that they could be easily
thrown out and at the same time serve as
q concession to Russia.
The relations between the Russian ana
Japanese envoys at the conference HaHe
not been quite as cordial they have been
reDorted At the first meeting on Wednes-
day NJ Witte spoke in French. but baron
kOmura insisted upon speaking IN Jap
aurse and at length the Russian minister
resorted TO his native tongue. outside the
navy yard the envoys have not mingled IN
any way. - =,
At Hotel Wentworth the difference be
tween the ENJOYS has been very marked
has not rcelNSQ q Single
correspondent while Mr.. Sato has been
very reserved, If not to say abrupt IN mis-
communications to the press on the snpJect
Of what has happened at the meetings in
the navy yard.
Russian Courtesy Notable.
Trpon the other hand. NJ Witte and his
entire suite have been courtesy itself In
their treatment 70 all who sought informa-
ton. Their bearing has been admirable
under a very trying ordeal. The Russian
envoy has received the reporters at all
hours of the day, and late in the evening
when a personal interview has been re-
0uested.
He has not been able TO give out informa-
ton regarding the actual condltlons' pc
cause his word was pledged to Baron no
mura TO keep the terms strictly secret
The Japanese government did not wish
the terms to be made known, because that
would prevent their ENJOYS acting upon
them as freely as they would otherwise be
enabled to do.
Japan did not wish for any conditions
which she conceded to Russia TO be known
to outsiders.
The situation at Portsmouth may be
summed up in n few words. The Russians
desired publicity throughout the conference
and the japanese eujoined invioable Sc
crecy. During the week the numerous re-
ports circulated about every thirty min
utes during the day from . m till MD
night were so conflicting that it was ex-
.1,- for Ea
TO know what had really taken place.
Russians Excellent Humor.
NJ Witte and his staff appeared to be in
excellent humor. They go into the sea for
their morning swim and play tennis In the
daytime when their duties are over, and
in the evening a little game of bridge Is
INDUCED IN.
NJ Wltte himself does not m'ngle in the
emusemeuts of his juniors but takes his
ease. reclining upon a divan IN his sitting
Room smoking cigarettes, where he receives
the calls Of the press correspondents. Ihe
bruised condition OF his left leg prevents
hotel and especially the foreign corre-
spondents. have been astOnished 10 hear
that the peace ENJOYS were the guests here
OF the Hotel Wentworth and not OF the
United States government
Judge Page who is the representative OF
the Frank Jones estate, including the brew
cry gave the invitation, which was ac-
cepted by Mr. Peirce. The ground taken
was that Portsmouth needed advertising
as a summer resort. The quarters pro-
vlded for the envoys are not as suitable
as they might be The russians are spht
up In the location of their bed rooms. and
their dining room is very small and In
adequate for the purpose
Suffocating Heat in Rooms.
The dining room is an ordinary bed room,
t4l in V,i 5nh
sixteen Russians take their meals. The
door has to De left orcn to prevent suro-
cation, as there is barely any room for the
walters 20 move around the tables Curl
ous guests In tie hotel stand outside TO
catch n rlirnrec of thc famous Russian
statesman ,atiug MS meals.
NJ. Witte las breakfast in his room,
lunch at the navy yard and dinner In the
evening with l's SUDordinates. 1t is notice
able that NJ N'ftc + very democratic In
his dealing with rs suite. lie laughs and
Jokes over the Giupfr table and walks
back to his room surrounded by ms olplo-
matte corps who appear to be devoted to
him. Baron Roseu is a very diHerent char
acter. He Is an aristocTat. and holds him
self aloof from any one except NJ. Witte
Each day lie sits alone for hours In the
cafe on the vevanda of the hotel carefully
scanning the morning ard evening papers.
One object Of his search Is to see If any
of the CorreSpc ndcnts have dared 10 quote
ernOon when the envoy takes his automo-
bile ride.
Komura Sticks to His Rooms.
Baron komura keeps very much to his
apartments and IS rarely seen about the
hotel except WHOM he goes into the dining
room for his meals. AS soon as the con-
ference IS over both NJ. Witte and Baron
komura will lose no time In starting on
their journey honeward. The weather dur
ing the week has been unplsasantly warm
and humid. Russians and Japanese have
suffered alike from the fierce attacks of the
mosquitoes, who have bitten those most
important and show no quarter Every
guest bears scars.
The telegraph operators have been kept
very busy sending of the various dispatches
An average OF $1,000 words per day have
been wired to various cities In the United