Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-08-19
PEACE ENJOYS
Is AVOID CRISIS
Two More Of Japan's Terms Have
Been Disposed Of
sAKHALIN Is STUMBLING BLOCK

Discussion Of cession Of Island Post
poned, Both Sides Trying to Avoid
Responsibility For Break IN Neeo-
tistions-crisis Will Be Reached In
= Few Days.
Portsmouth, n. H., Aug. 16. - The
crisis in the peace negotiations, upon
which the eyes of LAs world are fas-
tened. is approaching rapidly. and the
end of this week or the first of next
at the latest. should witness the dead
lock and the end. IL the conference is
to so TO pieces. Two more of the II
articles. numbers four and six. were
disposed of. Article four consists OF
mutual pledges TO observe the integ-
rity OF China and the policy OF the
"open door" for the commerce Of all
nations. and article six covers the sur
render OF the Russian leases to the
Liaotung peninsula, Port Arthur,
Dalny and the Blonde and Elliott
Islands. To article four both parties
gave ready assent, and the official
statement OF the adoption of that ar
ticle took care 20 state that it was
agreed TO unanimously"
Real Struggle to Come.
Article five, the consideration OF
which was postponed until later, pro-
vides for the cession of the Island OF
Sakhalin. Discussion appearing use
less at this stage oE account OF the
fIrn negative given in the Russian
reply. IL was decided on the motion
of the Japanese to defer its discussion,
40 Ia fnsnnflnn
of postponing to the end the life and
death struggle. This is the usual pro-
cedure followed in diplomatic negotia-
tions. enabling the negouators TO come
20 an accord upon all possible points
before tackling the crucial issues, and
the fact that the Russians acquiesced
IN the proposition shows that they too
are as careful and as anxious as are
the japanese that the world should
not accuse them of being responsible
for precipitating the break. II break
there is TO be. and wrecking the con-
ference. This in itself ts hopeful
sign. Besides. by postponing the burn
Ing questions 10 the end the psyche
logical moment for bargain and COM
promise arrives. Then burriedly the
last trump cards and the game is done.
And there is growing hope of COM
promise. To the closest observers the
final solution begins TO crystalline
quite naturally--the Russians yielding
the cession OF Sakhalin, Japan fore
going "the cost OF the war" but taking
compensation in the money 10 be re-
funded To Japan By China on account
of the transfer TO her OF the Chinese
Eastern railroad. which Russia con-
tends belongs to private corporation.
and therefore uncomfortable by Japan.
the Russian government property in
Port Arthur and Dalny. and renun-
Grafton for the maintenance of the
100. 600 Russian prisoners in Japan.
According 10 the Russian view, Japan
has already secured all and more than
she dreamed Of claiming before the
war. To insist upon a foe who has
still half a million men confronting
her in the field footing the Aill for the
cost of the war as the price OF peace
would. the Russians say. change the
character OF the military struggle
henceforth from one for certain princi-
pies TO one for the exaction of blood
money" All questions relating To
Korea and Manchuria except the ces-
sion OF the Chinese Eastern railroad
and the main Siberian line running
through Northern Manchuria from the
station Manchuria, on the Amur. via
Harbin to Vladivostok, are settled in
the five articles already adopted
Some confusion has arisen about those
articles. and the following resume can
be accepted as absolutely accurate:
The Articles Agreed On.
1-Recognjtion OF Japan's -prepon-
derating influence" in Korea, etc.
2-Mutual obligation to evacuate
Manchuria. Russia TO retroceds to
China all special privileges, etc.
3-Japanese obligation TO restore
the sovereignty and administration OF
China in Manchuria
4-Mutual obligation to respect the
territorial and Administrative integrity
of China and the princii.J OF the
open door"
e-The surrender OF the Russian
leases TO the Liactung peninsula. in
eiuding Port Arthur, Dalny and the
Blonde and Elliott Islands.
The remaining seven articles (not
given in numerical order) are:
The cession OF Sakhslin: reimburse
ment for the cost of the war; the ces-
sion to China of the Chinese Eastern
railroad; the article relating to that
portion Of the main line OF the siber-