The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-09-06
TREATY OF PEACE IS
 SIGNED AT PORTSMOUTH

anese copies of the treaty, which he placed before him. At the same time Mir. Plancon placed the Russian copies of the treaty before Baron Komura. Almost at the same moment the two selected plenipotentiaries arose from the center of the table and signed their names first to the French and then to the English text. The copies were then signed by Baron Rosen and Mir. Taka- hira. MT. Sato returned the Japanese copies for the signatures of Baron Ko- mura and MT. Takahira. M. Witte and Baron Rosen affixed their signatures to the Russian copies and the treaty of peace of Portsmouth was signed, the ceremony being completed at $50 p. m. To this moment no word had broken the silence of the conference room.
 Clasp Hands Across Table.
 Throwing his pen aside, M. Witte, without a word, reached across the table and grasped Baron Komura's hand. His conferees followed, and the Russian and Japanese delegates re- maIned for a moment in silence, their right hands tightly clasped across the conference table.
 The War over.
 The war was over-Russia and Japan were once more friends. There was nothing stagey about this simple cere- mony. It rang true and deeply im- pressed the attaches and secretaries of the two missions, wfe,> with the invited witnesses, had formed a large circle around the delegates. Boran Rosen was the first to break the silence. Ris- ing from his seat, the ambassador, looking Baron Komura and Mr. Taka- hira straight in the eye, said a few words which one has only to hear to know that they came straight from his heart. He began by sayin~ that he wished, on behalf of NJ. Witte, the first plenipotentiary, in his own name, to say few words.
 Exchange of Speeches of Good will.
 I've have just signed,"' continued the ambassador, 9'an act which will have forever place in the annals of history. It Is not for us active participants in in the conclusion of this treaty to pass judgment on it's import and signif1c- ance. As negctiators on behalf of the empire of. Russia, as we'll as the empire of Japan, we may with tranquil con- sciences say that we have done all that was in our power in order to bring about the peace for which the whole civilized world was longing. As pleni- potentiaries of Russia we fulfill q most agreeable duty in acknowledging that in negotiating with our hitherto adversa- ries and from this our friends, we have been dealing with true and thor ough gentlemen to whom we are happy to express our high esteem and person. al regard. We earnestly hope that friendly relations between the two em- pires will henceforth be firmly estab lished and we trust that his excellency Baron Komura, as minister of foreign affairs and one of the leading states men of his country will apply to the strengthening of these relations the wide experience and wise statesman ship he conscientiously displayed dur ing the negotiations which have now been so auspiciously concluded"
 Baron Komura replied that he shared entirely the views of Baron deRosen. The treaty of peace which they had just signed was in the interest of hu- manity and civilization and he was happy to believe that it would bring ] about firm, lasting peace between two | neighboring empires. He added that it ' will always be pleasant for him to re- call that throughout the long negotia- tions which they have now left behind, I,1 t,f ho .irI, 1y, ceived from the Russian plenipoten- tiaries the highest courtesy and consid- eration, and finally he begged to assure their excellencies the Russian plenipo- tentiaries that it would be his duty as well as his pleasure to do everything | in his power to make the treaty in fact what it professes to be in words-a treaty of peace and amity.
 Final Conference.
 At the conclusion of Baron Komura' s remarks M. Witte arose and said he desired to see Baron deRisen and the Japanese plenipotentiaries alone for a | few minutes. The four retired to the l Russian office and were closeted for ten minutes. What transpired in that final conference of the peace makers, the world may never know. The plenipo- tentiaries, however refused to discuss I it even to their secretaries,
 While the conference was in pro- gress the secretaries were afflxing the official seal to the treaty there being ! four seals to each of the four copies. | Upon their return to the room the plen- | ipotentiaries then signed the protocol of their last meeting which records the signing of the treaty September 5, 1905, { at $50 in the Portsmouth navy yard. ! After this there was general handshak- ing and a buffet luncheon was served in the cafe across the hall, the Russians and Japanese informally drinking each others health. Shortly before 5 o'clock the Russian mission left the yard for the thanksgiving service at Christ church and the Japanese return ed to the hotel
 l When the crowds near the church
 caught sight of M Witte they began a cheer that did not cease until he had passed into the church. It proved to be the greatest. of the many ovations that he received since he came to this country. ..-..: xM