The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-09-02

ENJOYS MEET TODAY
And The Order TO Call Truce viii
Doubtless Go Forward at Once to
the Opposing Military Com
manders in Man.
churia.
(Ry the Associated Press. }

Portsmouth, n. H., Aug. 31.-Rapid
progress has been made today in the
drafting of the treaty of peace. Baron
Komura at Mr.. Whites request, to-
morrow. will probably fix a day for
its signature. Russia's consent to a
suspension of hostilities reached Mr..
Witte tonight in a cablegram from
Count LamSdorff who Emperor Mich
olas has empowered to deal with this
important phase of the negotiations.
Although General Linevitch has been
informed of the practical conclusion
of peace and directed to hold him.
self in readiness to open with Field
Marshal Oyama, the negotiations for
an armistice, the order for the sus-
pension of hostilities and the signing
of the truce will not go forward from
st. Petersburg until Mr.. White has been
informed by Baron Komura that the
Emperor of Japan has also given his
consent and has empowered Marshal
Oyama to conduct the negotiations
with the Russian commander in the
field.
So rapidly and we'll is Mr.. De Mar
tens, with Mr.. Dennison, performing
his delicate and important task of
drafting the treaty, that he was able
to return from the navy yard tonight
to report to Mr.. White the practical
completion of ten articles of the
treaty. 1t is expected the treaty will
in its entirety consist of fifteen articles
exclusive of the preamble.
Japan's original demands are said
to have numbered thirteen. Only
twelve, however, were presented to the
Russians, as President Roosevelt is
credited with persuading the Japa-
nese plenipotentiaries before the con-
vening of the conference to withdraw
one of the conditions which he regard
ed as unjust. Whether this thirteenth
demand dealt with the Notifications at
Vladivostock cannot be learned.
Having waived three of the de-
mands presented-the indemnity, the
informed ships and the limitation of
Russia's naval strength in the Far
East-the Japanese final conditions
were nine. Several of these however.
will be divided in the treaty and
grouped into two or more articles
Mr.. White is exceedingly anxious to
sail for home on September 2. In the
meantime he wishes to take leave of
President Roosevelt and present the
thanks of his Emperor for the Presi-
dents assistance. He is therefore do
ing what he can to hasten the draft
ing of the treaty, which he would
probably be prepared to sign by Tues
day or Wednesday of next week at the
latest unless some obstacle should
arise. Tne only dlHerenceS Wnlcn nave
thus far appeared have been due to
the ambiguous language of certain
parts of the daily protocols which
form the framework. of the treaty. 1t
is here that the long experience and
recognized authority of the famous
international lawyers are proving of
assistance to Japan as we'll as Russia.
Both Mr.. De Martens and Mr.. Denni-
son, who is also well grounded i'm in
ternational law, are selecting with
great care the language of each article
in order that the, treaty may furnish
no ground for differences in the future
and accurately record the exact spirit
as well as the substance of the agree
ments concluded in the conference by
the plenipotentiaries. 1t thus happens
that the trainers sometimes spend an
hour in the selection of one word to
find finally that they are both striv-
ing to express the identical idea.