The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-08-31


Portsmouth August 30.-The following
statement of the Japanese argument
which governed their decision to waive
the question of indemnity can be accept
ed as authoritative
Japan realized fully that she was maxi
ing a sacrifice for peace, but she was
looking to the future. 1t was not ques-
tion of whether the war could be sue
cessfully continued, but of whether peace
was not now more advantageous to Japan.
Japan had already gained all she fought
for 1t was only the 'spoils Of war that
remained, and having achieved the real
oojects of the war she could afford to
forego the spells, rather than be placed
in the position of fighting for money.
While Japan believed she was entitled to
the spoils, she felt that her position was
so strong, her successes so complete, that
she could yield without detracting from
the force of her victory.
Portsmouth, N. H., August 30.-Actual
work of drafting the treaty of Ports
mouth began today. 1t is being done by
Mr.. De Martens and Mr.. Dennison, acting
legal advisers for the respective sides
While the '.bases of peace" have been ae-
cepted by the penipotentiaries, consider
able detail remains to be worked out In
the elaboration of the articles OF the
treaty. This is especially true In regard
to the articles dealing with the Chinese
Eastern railroad, and the surrender of the
leases of the Lao Tung peninsula and
Port Arthur and Talien Wan (Dalny). Mr..
Pekotiloff. Russian minister to Pekin,
who was formerly manager on the Rus
so-Chinese bank at Pekin, and has an
intimate knowledge OF all 0e details re-
latng to those matters, assisting Mr..
De Martens.
a very anomalous situation exists as to
the impression created by the conclusion
of peace While the outside world ap-
plauds, in Japan there is evidently great
disappointment In the terms, and IN RUS
sia. where 1t would seem that there
should be universal rejoicing over the
eteat diplomatic victcry M. Witte mas
won the government seems to have re-
ceived it cody. With the people II VIII
make M. Witte a great popular ngure'
and add to his laurels, but at court evil
IDENTIFY the very victory that NJ. Witte
has achieved. makes 1t all the more Dit
terly resented.
Expected Witte to Fail.
II ,s an omen secret when the Emperor
annointed M. Witte chief plenipotentiary
sthe military party expected him 10
fail They did not want peace, and 1t
was freely predicted In ST. Petersburg.
when NJ Witte left, that he had been
given an impossible mission Ihey ex-
pected him to fail In the negotiations.
or to make q bad peace" and either
would have spelled political ruin. In
stead upon the very terms upon which
the Emperor told Mr.. Meyer he would
make peace, and upon which the military
party did not believe 1t possible for peace
to1
securing a treaty honorable and. under
the circumstances. favorable to Russia.
This has evidently only exasperated his
enemies the more, and intrigue Is again
at work to discredit him. Since Japan
was in a conciliatory mood, they now said
he made mistake In surrendering half
of Sakhalin Yet he did so by the Cars
orders, and himself insisted that person.
ally he would have stuck to the end to
his original declaration not to cede terri
tory. or give indemnity.
Not a word or line about the receipt of
the news comes out OF Japan. In view
of the situation both at Toxic and st.
Petersburg, alarmists are inclined to
make much of the facts that the minutes
of yesterdays fateful meeting have not
been signed by the plenipotentiaries of
the two powers 1t is pointed out that
either side could still repudiate the agree
ment. but both plenipotentiaries refuse
20 admit the possibility Of such hap
pening.
Flood Of kilograms.
The flood of kilograms which began to
pour In upon the plenipotentiaries as soon
as the news was flashed to the world yes
terday, continued all night and all day.
From all parts Of the globe they kept
coming Practically all were full of
praise and congratulations. but occasion
ally there were words of reproach for
each party. The admirers of Japan and
Eussia in America fairly bombarded the
heads of respective missions.
Neither side would give out the mes
sages.
No final arrangements about an armis-
tice have yet been agreed to. Mr.. Taxa
hira said today that soon as the treaty
was signed he and Baron Komura would
go to Oyster Bay to personally thank
the President. The members Of the Japa-
nese colony today are getting over this
disappointment, recognizing that peace
even without money remuneration Is bet
ter thdn continuation of the war. I'm
less there is a change Of programme the
treaty Of peace between Russia and Japan
viii be signed in the navy general store
1t the na$y yard. where all the tessions
have been held.
4 brilliant scene will mark the issning