The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-15

The peace plenipotentlaries at the morn
ing session entered upon the considera-
ton OF article 4. which relates TO the Liao
Tung peninsula. the surrender of the Rus
sian leases. As the cession OF Sakhalin
follows as the fifth article the natural
deduction would be that today would wit
ness the first real collision and the pos
sible deadlock.
But II appeared more likely that, when
reached, the question OF the cession OF the
island, upon which neither side is now
prepared 10 yield. would by mutual
agreement be postponed until the end.
If rupture is to come each side will
manoeuvre to place the responsibility
upon the other, and for that reason IL
can be regarded as practically certain
that neother will insist at this juncture
upon precioita ting a situation which will
decide this issue. The plan pursued Is
almost certain TO be TO pass over the dis
puted articles and see how far an agree
ment Is posslbe-then 10 return and at
tack the obstacles. This is the logical and
general method OF diplomacy.
ADVANTAGES OF THE METHOD.
1t has the great advantage Of bringing
upon every POSSIBLE point and clearly de-
fining the points of divergence, narrow
ing the issues which decide the negotia-
tions 10 the lowest possible limits. If for
instance the disputed points were reduced
as Il is considered certain they will be
eventually to two, the penipotcntlarics
would be enabled 10 bargain or compro-
mise, TO offer proposition and counter
proposition and then in the end, if agree
he Ar1A
know and be able 10 form it's judgment
OF the merits of the respective conteh-
tions and locate the blame for the rro-
longation Of the carnage in the Far East.
The very fact that the world will be
enabled 20 apportion the responsibility for
n rupture, that the two countries on n
trial before the public opinion of the
world I'm the final analysis constitutes the
main hope OF an eventual successful out
come.
CHINESE RESTORATION.
Article 3, which was agreed to yester-
day. IL develops today was incorrectly
stated 10 be the cession Of the Chinese
Eastern railroad That article comes
later. The third article pertained TO the
restoration of the Chinese administration
I'm the province Of Manchuria, and was
a necessary and natural sequence to
article 2. providing for mutual evacuation
and mutual recognition OF Chinese terri
torial integrity and the open door" policy
for which American diplomacy has
fought.
The mistake was due 20 the fact that
the railroad question, involved generally
I'm the question Of the restoration of Chi
nese administration I'm Manchuria. was
touchod.
WHEN THE TEST COMES.
The change I'm the weather from glorious
sunshine TO a cherries cold drizzliug
rain. which turned the waters OF the bay
from sapphire TO dirty gray. blotted out
the horizon and generally blurred the
landscape. seemed 10 again have a visible
effect on the spirits II those who are here
watching the proceedings and the hopes
OF the optimistic seemed to be chilled
while the pesslmistic grew more pessl-
mistic than ever.
The plenipotentiaries and their secre-
taries. leaving the hotel I'm the rain wit
messed by the summer guests this time
not from the veranda but through the
dripping panes seemed discoura ging
In reality. however. ~ there was any
reason for n change I'm sentiment II should
have been. so far az surface indications
went, TO increase rather than To diminish
hope When the great test comes all the
worlds influences for peace will undoubt-
edly be concentrated 20 compel one or the
other side 10 give way.
ToDAY's FIRST BUSINESS.
When the pienipoteDiaries again faced