New-York tribune., 1905-08-16

a correspondent
Portsmouth, y. H.. Aug. 1J.-The proceedings
of the peace conference to-day resulted in an
agreement on Articles ! and e. and the passing
over of Article D. which was one of the points
i'll the japanese proposition which the Russian
ENJOYS primarily rejected 1t is confidently
pected that Articles and will be agreed to
tomorrow, and that on Thursday Articles .,
10 and IL. all of which are contested by the
Russians. will be laid on the table and Article
II agreed to. This programme. if carried out,
will leave Articles >. o, 10 and IL on the table
undiscussed and ii is probable that they will
be considered en- bloc.
Nothing which has happened to-day has in
the least augmented the prospects for peace,
aud only a radical surrender of their conten-
tons by Baron Komura and Minister Takah.ra
can prevent an early and final adjournment of
the conference. That such surrender would
prove a complete surprise to the Russian en-
voys is unquestionabIy true. There prevails
greater pessimism to-day regarding the out
come of the negotiations than has obtained at
any time during the negotiations, and nothing
but some unmistakable demonstration that
Japan purposes to recede absolutely from her
position seems likely to change this feeling,
though it is difficult to estimate popular opin-
ion' in advance
Among the reports which have occasioned in
terest to-day are the assertion, on the one hand,
that Baron Komura has received instructions
from Toxic to make peace. whatever conces-
sions may be necessary to accomplish that end;
and. on the other, the assertion OF a member
of Mr. Witte's staff that the chief Russian en-
voy hopes to sail from New-York next Tuesday
Neither story. of course. can he confirmed and
they are given here for what they are worth.
All information regarding the subject matter
of the respective articles is withheld. and all
statements about them are more or less ntelli-
gent guesses. The ease with which the most
skilful observers may err in this direction is
demonstrated. moreover. by the assertion of Mr..
KOrostovitz this evening that no one of the
articles thus far agreed to has had to do with
the railway in Manchuris a subject which was
supposed TO be eorered by articles eensidecsr&
yesterday and to-day That Article 1 referred
TO Corea is. however, clearly established, and
ATIlcie - Is SeHeFdliy SuppuSeu 10 utdl VIII
Sa aghalien.
Mr.. Witte is somewhat impatient of the asser-
tions which represent him as having cordially
approved of the rule Of secrecy proposed by
Baron Komura. Mr.. Witte says emphatically
that he merely assented to- but did not ap-
prove of the policy of preserving such absolute
secrecy regarding the proceedings of the CON
ference. and that he would have much pre-
ferred to make them public. The misunder-
standing he attributes to the Interpreters.
This has been an exceptionally diSagreeable
day in Portsmouth. rain having fallen heavily
and steadily, and it is probable that the exterior
gloom has given impetus TO the pessimism Of
popular opinion Mr. Plancon, speaking for the
Russian delegation. said this morning that the
envoys and their suite entirely satisfied
with the accommodations given them by the
Wentworth, that they We're surprisingly good
for summer hotel. and that reports to the
contrary were without foundation.