The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-01
NEARLY READY,
Ten Articles of Treaty of Peace
Are Completed.
1t Is Expected There Will Be
Fifteen i'm All.
NO ARMTSTICE YET.
Russia Is Merely Waiting for
Action by Japan.
Signing Is Expected to Take
Place Next Week.

Portsmouth, Sept Rapid progress
has been made in the drafting of the
treaty of peace. Baron Komura at Mr.
Whites request will probably soon fix a
day for its signature. Russia's consent
to suspension of hostilities reached
Mr.. Witte in cablegram from Count
Lamsdorff, whom Emperor Nicholas
has empowered to deal with the i'm
portant phase of the negotiations AL
though General Linevitch has been in
formed of the conclusion of peace and
directed to hold himself in readiness to
open with Field Marshal Oyama negoti-
ations for an armistice. the order for
the suspension of hostilities and the
signing of the truce will not go forward
from st. Petersburg until Witte has
been informed by Baron Komura that
the emperor of Japan has also given his
consent and has empowered Marshal
Oyama to conduct negotiations with the
Russian commander in the field. Having
advised Linevitch Russia will not hold
herself responsible for any clash which
may occur before Japan has consented
to an armistice. On this point, how
ever, no serious anxiety is felt here, and
the Japanese reply is momentarily ex-
pected.
So rapidly and we'll is Mr.De Martens,
with Mr.. Dennison performing his deli
cate and important task of drafting the
treaty, that he was able to return from
the navy yard Last night to report to
Mr.. Witte the practical completion of
ten articles of the treaty. 1t is expect
ed the treaty will in its entirety consist
of Is articles, exclusive of the pream-
BILE.
Japan's original demands are said to
have numbered 13. Only II, however,
were presented to the Russians as Pres
ident Roosevelt is credited with per-
suading the Japanese ENJOYS before the
convening of the conference to with
draw one of the conditions which he re-
garded as unjust.
Whether this thirteenth demand dealt
with the fortificatiOn at Vladivostok
can not be learned. Having waived
three demands presented the indemnity,
the interned 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 divid-
ed in the treaty and grouped into two
or more articles.
Mr. Witte is exceedingly anxious to
sail for home on September II. In the
meantime he is to take leave of Presi-
dent Roosevelt and personally present
the thanks of the emperor for the pres
ident's assistance. He is doing what he
can to hasten the drafting of the treaty,
which he would probably be prepared
to sign by Tuesday or Wednesday of
next week at the latest unless some
obstacle should arise. The only diff
ficulties which have thus far appeared
have been due to the ambiguous lang
uage of certain parts of the daily pro-
tocols which form the framework of
the treaty. 1t is here that the long ex-
perience and recognized authorities of
the famous international lawyers are
proving of assistance to Japan as we'll
as Russia. Both DeMartens and Den
nison, who are well grounded in 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
we'll as the substance of the agreement
concluded in the conference by the plen-
ipotentiaries. 1t thus happens that the
trainers some times spend an hour in
the selection of one word to find finally
that they are both striving to express
| the identical idea.