Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-09

was enjoyed even by those who were not
good sailors
The japanese also have been profuse in
their expressions of qualification for the
hospitality rendered them aboard the
Dolphin by Capt. Gibbons.
1t is expected that Capt. Winslow and
Capt. Gibbons will call officially today on
the plenipotentiaries at their hotel The
exchange of official calls between the two
missions will occur probably this after
noon.
Witte end Komura.
Shortly after the plenipotentiaries entered
the navy general store it was learned that
Mr.. Witte and Baron Komura exchanged
compliments, the latter however using Mr..
Honda as interpreter, neither Baron
Komura nor Mr.. Takahira is very familiar
with French, while Mr.. Witte, although un-
derstanding English in reading, cannot
speak 1t.
Immediately after this formality the en-
voys proceeded to the exchange of their
credentials 1t was not known outside or
the meeting room how long thlS ceremony
might take.
Should the ENJOYS, however, remain in
the general store for luncheon 1t may be
assumed that they have decided to enter
upon the more serious work of the confer
ence, proceeding first to the determination
of the official language or languages to be
used and then taking up the program TO
be followed each day. Russia prefers French
and Japan English.
Points for Decision.
Another point that must be decided in
the event the negotiations proceed beyond
the initial stage is whether the military
attaches shall participate with the pieni-
potentiaries in the conference or whether
they shall meet separately and draw up
their reports and refer them TO the pleni-
potentiares for consideration.
Should this latter plan be followed in the
case of military attaches, the same pro-
gram would be adopted for the financiers.
1t is believed to be more than probable,
however that the attaches of the two mis-
sions will act solely in advisory capacities
to their respective chiefs
1t can be stated positively that up TO the
time of meeting today the instructions OF
the four plenipotentiaries signed by their
respective sovereigns had not passed out or
the hands of Mr.. Witte and Baron Rosen
and Baron Komura and Mr.. Takahira.
First Meeting Ended.
Shortly after noon the ENJOYS came out
of the naval stores building indicating that
today's n Getting had ended. Baron koTara
and Mr.. Takahira appeared first and passed
directly down the gravel path to the navy
ward landing, where launch was In walt
ing to take them to Newcastle. The Rus
sian commissioners followed the japanese
moment later taking a second launch for
the four-mile trip to their hotels. Upon
their arrival there they entered by pri-
yate doorway and 1t was some time before
the fact of their return became generally
known.
Within ten minutes after the missions re-
turned a CORRESPONDENT of the Associa ted
pres. who was received by one of the plen-
ipotentiaries was given the following in
formatio
The Meeting Satisfactory.
"You can saw that this mornings meet
ing was entirely satisfactory so far as 1t
went; we exchanged credentials, but please
do not write nonsense about credentials.
The penipotentiaries and the President
have known from the outset that the plen-
| ipotentiaries of both governments came
| clothed with plenary powers and the anxi-
ETY. or this subject has never been shared
| by the ENJOYS on either side
"Our next meeting will be held tomorrow
morning. Provided all goes well we will
| get down to business then"
HAS either side committed itself about
terms?' the envoy was asked.
No: terms were not discussed at today's
meeting
1t was also stated that 1t had been agreed
that the English and French languages
/ should be used jointly and that the official
minutes of the meetings should be recorded
In both languages.
Envoys Well Satisfied.
While the plenipotentiaries did not get
down to serious work, they felt well salts
fed with what they accomplished today.
| Extreme cordality characterized the ses-
sion
! a, this mornings meeting Baron Komura
| spoke japanese. his secretary. Mr. Honda,
| trausIa:ing it into Franch, while NJ Witte
| spoke entirely in French. TIE expression
used by the plenipotentiaries that the ere