The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-08

Portsmouth, N. H, September s.
The Treaty of Portsmouth was
signed shortly before four o'clock this
afternoon in the conference o Of
the naval general store at the a
yard. The firing of a national salute
of 10 guns was the signal which told
the people of Portsmouth, Kittery and
New Castle that the peace Of Ports
mouth was an accomplished fact, ana
ahe church bells in the three towns
were soon pealing forth a joyful re-
frain.
For forty-seven minutes those out
side the conference room a~nxiously
awaited the signal Suddenly an order
ly dashed to the entrance Of the peace
building, and waved his hand to the
gunner a few feet away, and the open
ing shot of the salute rang out On
the clear air of the soft September
afternoon, proclaiming peace between
Russia and Japan.
RUSSIA AND JAPAN FRIENDS
AGAIN.
In to the moment of signing the
treaty no word had broken the silence
of the conference room. Throwing MS
pen aside, NJ. White without a word,
reached across the table and grasped
Baron KOmura S hand. His con1ereeS
followed, and the Russian and Japan
csc delegates remained for a moment
in silence, their right hands tlghtly
cIasped across the conference ta1le.
The war was Over-Russla and Japan
were Once more friends.
This simple ceremony rang true, ana
deeply impressed the attachees anu
cncretarips of the two missions, VIC
with the invited witnesses, mad 1ornleo
a large circle around the delegates st
ting at the table.
DE ROSEN BREAKS THE SILENCE
Baron de Rosen was the first TO
break the silence. Rising from lis
seat the ambassador, looking Baron
KOmura and Mr.. TaKahira stralght i'll
the eve. said a few words which one
had only to hear to know that Z e
came from his heart. He began ny
saving he wished on Dehai1 [ M
White. Russia's first plenlpotehtlarS'
and in his own name to say a ~"
words:
I'VE have Just signed" contlnueo
the ambassador, IAN act which VII
have forever a place IN the ahna,s VI VI
history. AS ~negOtiators on penall VI
the Empire OF Russia, as we'll as me
Empire of Japan, we may WIN l,an.
cuiI conscience say that We have n
al that was in our power in order &c
brino ahout the peace for which the
whole civilized world was longing. We
aornestIv hone that friendly relations
ha+weon the two empires will hence
forth he firmly established and W.
trust that his excellency Baron homu
"a. as minister of foreign affalrs, AM
one of the leading statesmen OF Ill
country. will apply to the strengthen
anine of these relations, the Wloe eA
narience and wise craftsmanship Ne =
c~onspicuously displayed during thes
neeotiation. which have o peel =
auspiciously concluded.
KOMURA REPLIES TO Ihh
RUSSIAN.
Baron Komura replied that he shaf
ed entirely the views OF Baron u
Rosen\ The treaty of Portsmout
which they had just signed, ne sdls
was in the interest of humanity an
civilization. and he was happy to be
lieve that it would bring o a nll
ldSIlnS p6dCS UCIWCCh
boring empires. He begged to assur
the Russian plenipotentiaries, ina.
would be his duty as we'll as his PIE:
sure to do everything in his power |
make the treaty in fact what 1t Pr
fesses to be in words-a treaty {
peace and amlty.
ENJOYS CLOSETED FOR TEN
MINUTES.
At the conclusion of Baron kom,
ra's remarks NJ. Witte arose and sa1
he desired to see Baron de Rosea an
the Japanese plenipotentiaries alb
for a few minutes. The fou re-Ie
TO the Russian Office and were ciosts
- for ten minutes. What TRANSFERRED
that final conference of peace make
the world may never know. Inc pie
inotentiaries have refused to discuss
ever to their secretaries.
The treaty of peace between Russ
and Japan was signed by the repi
sentatives OF the two empires at 5:
o. m. today. On the instant OF !
contamination of the great nls1orie
acf a salute was fired at the unit