Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-09-01
THE WAR is ENDED
ENJOYS Agree Upon Terms Of
Peace
Japan viii Receive No Indemnity, But
Russia VIII cede to Her Southern Half
of SauhaIln.


The long and bloody war between
Japan and Russia is ended. The terms
of peace were settled by NJ. WHITE and
Baron Komura at the session of the con-
| ference at Portsmouth, N. H., Tuesday
afternoon, and preliminary arrangements
for an armistice were concluded, and the
actual work Of framing the treaty of
Portsmouth" was by mutual agreement
turned over to Mr.. De Martens, the great
Russian international lawyer, and Mr..
Dennison, the former Vermonter, who
for 25 years has acted as the legal adviser
of the japanese foreign office. The treaty
is expected to be completed early next
week.
This happy conclusion Of the confer
ence, which a week ago would have been
shipwrecked had IT not been for heroic
intercession Of President Roosevelt, was
sudden and dramatic. For the sake of
peace Japan, with the magnanimity of a
victor, at the last moment yielded every
thing still in issue. Russia refused to
bulge from the ultimatum Emperor
Nicholas had given to President Roose-
welt through ambassador Meyer. No in
demnity under any guise, but an agree
ment to divide Saghalin and reimburse
Japan for the maintenance of the Russian
prisoners, were his last words. They had
been repeatedly reiterated in NJ. Whites
instructions ond in the form of a written
reply to the japanese compromise pro-
posal of last Wednesday they were de-
livered TO Baron Komura Tuesday.
NJ. White went to the conference declar-
ing he was powerless to change the dot
OF an 'i' or the cross of "t' in his in
structions Emperor Nicholas's word had
been given, not only to him but to Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the head of a foreign
state When Baron Komura, therefore,
first offered the new basis of compromise
(the complete remuneration of indemnity
nj a1 trsff Gff Hon for Ha
demption of Saghalin at a price to be
fixed by a mixed tribunal consisting of
representatives Of the neutral powers,
in fact, II not in words, the solution
offered by President Roosevelt), NJ. White
again returned a non possumus. 1t was
what NJ. Witte termed the "psycholog-
ical moment" NJ. Witte did not finch.
He expected a rupture and, as he ex-
pressed it afterward he was stunned by
what happened. Baron Komura gave way
on all the disputed points.
With the prescience that has enabled
the Japanese TO gauge the mental
processes OF their adversaries on the field
Of battle and upon the sea they had
realized in advance that peace could be
obtained in no other way. They had
warned their government. President
Roosevelt had also, ii is believed, advised
Japan that it was better to meet the
Russian position than to take the re-
purposes Of collecting tribute. The Mikado
at the session of the cabinet and elder
statesmen Monday, had sanctioned the
final concession. When Baron Komura
yielded the rest was mere childs play
Articles 10 and IL dnterned war ships
and the limitation of Russia's sea power
in the far East were withdrawn. Japan
agreed that only that portion of the
Chinese Eastern railroad south OF Chantfu,
the position occupied by Oyama. should
be coded to Japan. Both sides, once the
deadlock was broken, wanted a Just and
lasting" peace, and in that spirit 1t was
decided to practically neutralize Sagha-
lin, each country binding itself not to
fortify its half of the island and Japan
assuming an obligation not to fortify the
La Perouse strait between Saghalin and
Hokkaido, which would bar Russia's
commercial route to the Pacific.
The plenipotentiaries went further.
They decided to add a new clause in the
nature OF a broad provision for mutual
commercial privileges by which each
country will secure for the other the
benefit of the most favored nation"
clause and the open door" The treaty
will therefore be a wonderfully friendly
document of a character almost to raise
the suspicion that the two countries have
not negotiated peace, but have concluded
the basis of a future alliance. There is
however, no evidence. as rumored that
any secret clauses are to be appended to
the present treaty.