New-York tribune., 1905-08-30
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune l


Oyster Bay, Aug. 29-President Roosevelt re-
ceived the first news of the peace agreement
at about 1880 p, .na.. while he was engaged on
his correspondence with Secretary Leb in the
library. The telephone bell rang onthe desk
and Secretary Loeb took the message which
was from the New-York office of prss assocI-
alton. The President at once expressed his in-
mense satisfaction over the intelIiience, and
FASTENED into the family sitting room to tell the
news TO Mrs. Roosevelt
Official confirmation of the historic tdings
reached the President at 2:2O o'clock n a cipher
dispatch from Portsmouth. BY authority and
at the request of Baron KOmura tn. chief en-
voy of Japan. the dispatch stated.
The plenipOntiaries of Japan have withdrawn
their claim for reimbursement of war expenses.
and an agreement has been reached TO
partition of the island of Saghalen. All main
points have been definitely settled. The pleni
potentiaries will now proceed with discussion of
details.
The President was just a little bit surprised
to learn that the plenipotentaries had reached
such an early agreement, for the last news he
had from Portsmouth indicated that tie ENJOYS
were still haggling over the question of in
demnity At O'Clock the President received a
message from Mr. Peirce Third Assistant Sec
retary of State, at Portsmouth. confirming the
newspaper report of the agreement. Mr.. Peirce
communicated the facts that Japan had waived
indemnity and that a division Of Sagahaiien
had been agreed upon He added that the en-
voys were engaged in settling the details of the
agreement and a treaty would surely be signed.
The news from Portsmouth had scarcely
grown cold before kilograms of cOngratulation
began to pour in at the executive office. Clar-
ence Ingling. telegrapher of the White House
force had little rest during the remainder Of
the day Letters will follow the telegraphic
messages of felicitation for the next ten days,
and the clerks at the executive office will have
their hands full grinding out appropriate an
swers.
Though President Roosevelt expressed him
self as highly pleased over the result. he said
that he did not care TO issue any formal state
ment. All the world knows how indefatigably
The President has labored TO bring about to-
DAYS result; how he worked and hoped when
work and hope seemed useless in the face of
mountainous obstacles built up by either side.
Therefore il would be but Il waste of words TO
send out from the executive office tonight an
official statement setting forth the deep salts
faction that the President feels over the happy
crowning of his efforts.
His friends feel confident that this date Will
be regarded by his bioGraphers as the day OF
his greatest triumph He has persuaded two
mighty powers to end the greatest war of mod
ern times, when all the civilized world declared
that there could be no peace and when even
the belgerents themselves could see no vista IN
tbe future but loss of blood and treasure
Throughout this little baysde village among
tho friends and neighbors OF President Roose-
volt his interest in the proceedings at Ports
mouth has been known and keeniy appreciated.
Tho news Of the agreement thrilled through
tho town with magical rapidity. Business prac-