Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1905-08-12
PEACE TERMS
ARE UNKNOWN
Japanese ENJOYS Present Demands
to the Russians.
CIPHER CABLE SENT.
Reimbursement For Expenses Of War
and Cession of Island Of Sax.
balin Are Most Import.
ant Items.

Portsmouth. N. H.. Aug r. Reim-
bursement for the expenses sustained
in the prosecution of the war ana tne
cession of the Island of SakIalin con-
stitute the main features of the peace
conditions handed by Baron Komura to
NJ. Witte at the conclusion OF the
morning session Thursday of the plen-
ipotentiaries in the general stores
building of the Portsmouth navy yard,
the word 'indemnity" carefully avert
ed, the term employed being "reim-
bursement" for the cost of the war. No
sum is fixed, the amount being dis
tinctly adjourned for mutual ADJUST
ment between the two countries after
the Japanese expenditures have been
ascertained These are the two all
important conditions and those which
the Russian plenipotentiaries find abb
solutely unacceptable. Unacceptable as
they are, however, It can be stated
that these two principal conditions did
uOI COIIlt dS d Suf PiloC ~ tiiC AsaoctA@s
plenipotentiaries. The friendly fashion
: in which Baron Komura explained the
conditions before handing them to M.
witte, and the avoidance of the use of
the word Indemnity" in the presenta-
ton of Japan's bill for the cost of the
war. without fixing a sum. leaves the
way open for negotiations and consti-
tutes the main hope that final agree
ment is possible. Certainly the dam
ger of a sudden rupture. no matter
what the ultimate result may be, is
precluded by Thursdays developments.
The other terms are substantially what
the world expected, and with one. or
perhaps two exceptions. could prob
ably be entertained as a basis OF ne
gotiatfons. They include the following:
The cession of the Russian leases to
the Lao. Tung peninsula. comprising
Port Arthur and Dalny.
The evacuation of the entire province
of Manchuria, the retrocession to Chi
ma of any privileges Russia may have
in the provinces and the recognition by
Russia of the principle Of the open
door,"
The cession to Japan OF the Chinese
Eastern railroad below Harbin the
main line through northern Manchuria
to Vladivostok to remain Russian
property.
The recognition of the Japanese pro-
tectorate over Korea.
The grant OF fishing rights to ia
pan In the waters of the Siberian lat
fa3 0ff R1salf mFiadivostok tothe
The REIMBURSEMENT to Japan OF the
Russian warships informed in neutral
ports. Finally a limitation upon the
naval strength of Russia in far east
ern waters.
As whole the terms are regarded as
exceedingly hard by the Russians. In
accordance with the two principal
conditions which cannot be accepted
under M. Whites instructions, those
relating to the limiting OF Russia's
naval power in the far east and the
granting of fishing rights in Russian
littoral are considered particularly Of
fensive TO the amour propree of their
: country and of such a humiliating
character as to be inadmissible.
The japanese, on the contrary. as
Baron komura announced at the con-
ference. consider them moderate. con-
Ter ing that they only represent fair
compensation for the expenses of the
war and the victories they have
achieved on land and sea, their sole
purpose being to attain the objects for
which they have fought. the spoils
Claimed being such as they are leglti-
mately entitled to as the result of their
military and naval successes. The
Russian plenipotentiaries. as soon as
the japanese terms were in their
hands. called in the five expert dele
gates attached to the mission and spent
the whole afternoon In the considera
ton of the terms. Meantime the con-
ditions had been placed In cipher and
cabled the czar with M. Whites per-
sonal recommendations.