New-York tribune., 1905-08-14
FIRST ARTICLE AGREED ON.
Russian ENJOYS Accept the japanese Proposals In
Regard to Corea
AN INFORMAL EXCHANGE OF VIEWS.
Regular Meeting of Ppenhae Postponed Until To-day Opinion Slightly
More Hopeful

tFrom Special Correspondent VI the Triounel
Portsmouth y. H.. Aug. 1$-The first prop
osition In the Japanese peace terms was agreed
to to-day in so far rs the form OF expression is
concerned. and II only remains for the text to
be prepared before It can be considered for its
incorporation In n protocol 1t should be said.
however. that Article No l." as it is termed.
is one of the Japanese propositions TO which
Russia presented objection and yesterday
session was devoted not to n discussion of the
principle involved. but to the form In which it
should be expressed.
There was no meeting of the conferrees to-
day, but informal exchanges passed between
Mr.. Witte and Baron KOmura, with the result
above set forth. When the cOnferrees meet TO-
morrow morning they will devote their atten-
ton to the text TO be employed. and will, it is
expected. be able to dispose of Article No l.
1t is generally assumed that this article deals
with Japans relations with COrea, though that
is. of course. only an assumption.
The postponement Of the session of the
conference to have been held to-day was
made necessary by Assistant Secretary
Peirce's declared unwilngness 10 interfere
with long standing custom which has
opened the navy yard TO the public on
Sundays. and also TO the disincnation of
Governor Mclean to have the Puritan Sabbath
violated by the envoys. while the ENJOYS were
too polite to criticise the wishes of their hosts
in this respect. Some members Of their suites,
and particularly the Japanese, frankly ex-
pressed their inability 10 understand a Christi
anity which would risk the prolongation of a
war for even one day. with one days possible
loss of human life. rather than permit the men
who are striving TO effect peace to pursue their
labors on Sunday.
When asked IL he had objected TO session OF
the conference to-day, Governor Mclean replied
that he had not taken the initiative in that
direction but that he had expressed his gratih-
cation and approval of the postponement when
consulted on the subject
There are some indications that the japanese
ENJOYS are beginning to chafe under the per-
sistent criticism of their determination TO with
hold from the public the essential features OF
the peace conference and to compel the Rus
slams to 10 likewise. Their course in this re-
spSct is Wholly at variance with their former
diplomatic methods. while the Russian ENJOYS
are rapidly gaining popularity for themselves
and their cause by their manifest efforts 10
crafty publIc interest in so far as their pledges
10 the japanese will permit, and by their avo~eo
desire to make public the terms proposed and
the proceedings OF each day.
NJ. Witte and Baron Rosen are. moreover,
pursuing the policy of receiving the leading
representatives of the press in so far as their
arduous duties will permit. and evince dis
position to discuss the situation frankly and
OPENLY stopping when further discussion would
exceed the limits insisted upon by Baron no
nura and his colleagues
Both of the Japanese plenipOtentiaries. on the
contrary, are denying themselves TO newspaper
men, and If seen preserve an impenetrable ST.
Ience on every subject connected with the ne
gotiations The results of these opposed policies
are all too obvious in the tone of the dispatches
going out from Portsmouth. and there seems TO
be ground for the feeling that proiongation
of the present attitude by the Japanese ENJOYS
will operate so to change American senti-
ment as materially to increase popular sym
pathv with Russia in her hour of aff1iction
II has been noted in more than one instance
that the frank direct character of NJ. Witte
bears striking similarity to that of President
Roosevelt while the impassive Independence of
the Japanese is more in keeping with the char
acter which Americans generally have been led
TO attribute to the Russians. Mr.. Sato. spokes-
man for the Japanese delegation, said to-day
that his principals had insisted secrecy be-
cause they had supposed it would contribute to
the freedom of discussion and ultimately make
for peace but it is obvious that the Japanese
envoys are beginning to question the wisdom OF
a course which seems destined to undo in few
weeks all the good work in the way of building
up sympathy for Japan which it has taken
years accomplish.
NJ. Witte said to-day that he enormously
quoted having said that the Russian ENJOYS
had said that they We're prepared TO agree on
an armistice and attributed the misundefstand-
ing to the interpreter who had translated his
marks from French into English.
Whateve- may be the final outcome of III"
peace conference. II is certain that, If only
through courtesy to the President effort will
be spared to come TO agreement and no final
adjournment will be taken until every difference
between Russia and Japan has been con-
scientiously cauvassed.