New-York tribune., 1905-08-15

'From a SPecial correspondent Of Tns IriouneJ
Portsmouth, y. H.. Aug. 14-It was officially
announced this evening that three of the twelve
points of the Japanese peace terms have been
agreed 10. and that the fourth will be taken up
Mt the morning session tomorrow. On being
asked regarding the expression he had used in
making this announcement when he said that
points two and three had been disposed of, Mr..
Sato. spokesman for the Japanese ENJOYS. said
that final agreements on these points had been
reached, and the text had been prepared and
approved.
rs the text approved to-day the one that will
be used in the treaty." he was asked.
Yes, if there should be treaty. was the
prompt reply.
In the light of this announcement there is
generally increased optimism among those who
are watching the peace conference the Optimists
dwelling on the fact that this means that one
fourth of Japan's terms have received the ap-
proval of the Russian plenipotentiaries. whose
power is absolutely unlimited.
To form an accurate estimate of the situation,
however, due regard must be given to the fact
that the Russian reply ,ccepted in principle
eight of the twelve propositions submitted by
Baron Komura while four were rejected. and
thus far no one OF the rejected points has come
up for discussion. An agreement on one of
the mooted points would, therefore. have far
greater significance than the approval of the
entire eight, to which Russia primarily as
sented.
The extent and form of Russias rejection OF
the four rejected points is not known, but it is
asserted in terms which leave no ground for
question that Mr. Witte will stand pat" on his
original reply to the Japanese demands and
that an agreement can be reached on the points
at issue only through concessions allowed by
the Japanese ENJOYS
Whether or not this will prove TO be literally
true no one can determine. but that such is
now the position of the Russian pIenipoten-
tiaries can be authoritatively declared. 1t is
even asserted that. having gained. as a result
of the war; territory practically as large as
| herself. namely, COrea. which the Russians
maintain has been virtually annexed TO the
Japanese Empire Japan should not expect in
demnity or reimbursement for the expenses Of
the war. and that the payment of even portion
of those expenses would he an act of extreme
generosity not to say work of supererOgatiOn.
on the part of Russia.
The Japanese ENJOYS maintain their sphinx
like silence and any effort to forecast their
course with regard to the mOoted points at this
time must be pure conjecture. When the first
mooted point will be reached is also a matter
of conjecture but both sides refuse to give the
| slightest Indication of the subjects Of the
| points or the order in which they have
been placed although it is now fairly satisfac-
torily. but not officially, established that the
first point embodied Japan's future relations
with Corea.
| 1t is maintained that points two and three
| provide for the restoration OF Manchuria TO
China and for the disposition OF the Man
churian Railroad. although this canro- be con-
| irmed
| There is reason to believe that the fourth point
in the Japanese terms refers TO the trunk line of
the Manchurian Railway from Hardin to Vlad-
| ivostok as differentiated from the road from
Harbn to Port Arthur. which is provided for in
| point three. In any event 1t is expected that
one or, at most two sessions will serve to dis
pose of point four. and that the crucial test OF
the sincerity of the envOys and the possibility
Eof their reaching agreement will come VIXEN
point five is taken up. Ii is expected that this
will be reached to morrow afternoon. and while
it is not known whether it refers to SaghaIien
or to the question Of reimbursement II is prob
ably the former.
A committee OF FIVE prominent Hebrews ar
rived here this afternoon. and spent the even
ing in conference with Mr.. Wltte concerning
the welfare and the future Of the Hebrews in
Russia The committee. which was appointed
by the B'na Birth. is composed of Adolph
Kraus. president; Oscar $. Straus, Isaac n.
Seligman, Jacob H. Schiff and Adolph Levi
sohn.
I Mr. Wltte Indignantly denied to-day that the
visit OF these men had anything TO do with
Russian finances, and this denial was supported
by Mr.. Straus. who said:
"Our visit has nothing whatever to do with
loans. Finance will not be referred TO in our
conversation with Mr.. witte. II would actual
" be degrading, in dealing with so serious a
matter, TO mention finance"