The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1905-09-08
WORDING OF PROTOCOL OF LAST
&
SITTING NOT YET SET.
TIED UPON.
wITrE ANXIOUS TO FINISH UP
TO PRECLUDE POSSIBILITY OF
PRESSURE FROM HOME ON
MINOR POINTS,.

Portsmouth, N. H., Sept. 5. - From
an official source the Associated Press
is informed that the treaty is COM
pleted. 1t consists of preamble and
seventeen articles, the substance Of
all of which have been given in the
Associated Press dispatches. But
there were still differences about the
wording of the protocol OF the last
sitting, which must be signed before
the treaty itself can be signed. The
Japanese presented a protocol to
which the Russians took exception.
The differences, however, were expect
ed to be Strengthened before noon to-
day, and it seems quite possible the
treaty will be signed this afternoon.
Mr.. De Martens, who is extremely
anxious to get back to Russia, has
engaged passage on La Lorraine, sailed
for New York on Thursday, and leaves
here on Wednesday.
Stick on Phraseology.
The work of engrossing the peace
treaty has already begun, Mr.. Rojest-
vensky doing the caligraphic work of
the French, and Mr.. Adashi of the
English text. Controversies over the
phraseology still continue and there
were several conferences yesterday
between Mr.. De Martens and Mr..
Dennison, differences before referred
Japanese are proving great sticklers
for words. They cling tenaciously to
their ideas. Careful preparation and
methods have been the secret of their
successes on land and sea, and in
their diplomatic struggles at Ports
mouth the same qualities have been
displayed.
Witte Anxious to Get Through.
Mr. Witte is extremely anxious to
have the treaty finished and signed at
the earliest moment to preclude the
possibility of pressure from the home
government upon minor points.
Especially at ST. Petersburg there is
constant danger that instructions at
the last moment may come to try and
get this concession or that concession,
and thus bring only diplomatic discus
sion which might indefinitely prolong
the negotiations.
One of the articles in the treaty
provides for the protection of private
rights and property acquired under
cnly hH
and in Dalny, Port Arthur and other
places in the Liaotung peninsula. The
Russian government has had
lnnumerabIe Petitions
on this subject. Several Of them are
from Americans who hold concessions
in Southern Sakhalin. While a full
synopsis of the treaty will be cabled
to the governments of the two coun-
tries, the actual text will not be
known at Toxic or st. Petersburg un-
til the plenipotentiaries arrive. 1t is
expected that to cable such a long
document textually would make it
possible for an expert later, when the
text became public. to work out the
government cipher. Mr.. Witte will
personally convey the text to st. Pc
tersburg and Baron Komura to Toxic.
This is the real reason why both are
anxious to get home as soon as possi
BILE. as the treaty does not go into
force until the two emperors have
signed.
viii BE Exclusive Affair.
The signing of the treaty is to be a
very exclusive affair. The Japanese
objected to the presence of any news
paper correspondents or photogra-
pliers, and it has. therefore, been de-
cided that besides the plenipotenti-
aries and secretaries there shall be
present only Assistant Secretary
Peirce, representing the president;
Gov. McLane Of New Hampshire; the
mayor of Portsmouth: Admiral Mead,
commander of the navy yard, and the
commanders Of any United States
warships In the harbor, in this case
only Capt. Winslow OF the Mayflower.
Mr.. Peirce has procured four ordinary
quill pens, with one of which each Of
tho nInuinot an ITO rioc will ciOn