THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1748, 6 September 1905, Page 31

THE RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR

AN ARMISTICE. PRECAUTIONARY STIPULATION BY JAPAN. FEAR OF TREACHERY. LONDON, September 2. After last Tuesday’s sitting of the Peace Conference at Portsmouth (U.SA.), Count Lamsdorff, Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, sent following telegram, to the Czar: —-“ The Japanese are prepared to submit to your Majesty’s; wilt.” The French newspaper “ Le Temps ” protests against sueh a policy of makebelieve. “In faet r ” says the newspaper, “ it is disastrous to Russia. It is quite out of the question to pretend that the Japanese have yielded to an ultimartum.”" A fresh incident has since arisen. The Czar stipulated as a condition of his assent to peace that the Mikado should’ first agree to an armistice. The Mikado agreed, but stipulated that the armistice should be inoperative until the signing of the peace treaty. M. de Witte, the CzaPs first plenipotentiary, expressed astonishment at this stipulation, which he declared unprecedented and illogical, since delay would render an armistice useless. Baron Komura, the principal Japanese plenipotentiary, however, insisted, and the plenipotentiaries finally agreed that the armistice should become operative the moment the treaty was signed. It was officially announced on Friday that an armistice had been agreed upon. Professor Maartens and Mr Dennison, representing Russia and Japan respectively, have completed the preamble, and the first three articles of the treaty. M. Sato, one of Baron Komura’s suite, desired that the armistice should pot become operative until all the commanders on sea and land had been notified, and until the maintenance of the peace agreement was assured. The newspapers commend the Japanese for their prudence. The “ Chronicle ” says that perhaps Japan’s only safeguard against treachery or chicanery in the . interpretation of the terms' of peace is the maintenance of her army in such a position as to he ready to strike another overwhelming blow. “ The Times says a message from the Czar expressing assent to the peace agreement, his approval of the conduct of M. de Witte and Baron von Rosen throughout the negotiat : ons, and his thanks for their services, reached Portsmouth on Friday. The' declaration of peace was received with demonstrations of delight at many Russian towns, including Smolensk, Baku, Simferopol, and Kharkoff. LONDON, September 3. Under the terms of the armistice Marshal Oyama and General Linevitch are to delimit the Russian and Japanese spheres. Russian reinforcements are not to pass Harping, while the Japanese are to go r»o further north than Mukden. Existing regular imm regarding contraband are to remain. SILENCE OF THE JAPANESE' • PRESS. . LONDON, September 2. The Japanese press is silent regarding the peace terms. The public of Japan have not been informed of the details. The fact of Count Katsura, the Japanese Prime Minister, withholding the terms causes misgivings in St. . Petersburg lest a serious outburst of popular indignation should occur in Japan. Many people in Tokio are convinced that the Mikado has made substantial concessions, which are being criticised. Some of the Japanese newspapers advise that the flags should be flown at half-mast when the peace terms are officially announced. The “Morning Post” states . that Count Katsura is doubtless awaiting the signature of the treaty before making an announcement. THE PEACE TREATY. WHAT THE JAPANESE DELEGATES! EXPECT. WASHINGTON. September 3. Professor Maartens and Mr Dennison, who are representing Russia and Japan respectively in drawing up the peace treaty, have completed twelve clauses of the di'aft. A long discussion took place over Sagbalien Island. Eventually the envoys were consulted, and agreement arrived at. <=•■- ' V The clause dealing with- the evacuation of Manchuria - remains as it was dealt with by the representatives of the two Powers. It is expected that the treaty will be signed on Monday afternoon. M. Sato, one of Baron Komura’s suite declares that the terms of the treaty will not be announced until it has been ratified. The actual signing of the treaty will

he unostentatious, both sides realising that it is unpopular at home. One Japanese delegate remarked — “We are aware we are going home to stones—perhaps dynamite.” TREATY COMPLETED. LONDON, September 4. The “ Morning Post ” reports that Baron Komura asked for the evacuation of Manchuria at the earliest moment. M. de Witte pleaded against this the limited capacity of the railway, and it was at last mutually agreed that Russia and Japan would completely evacuate the territory within eighteen months. Russia retains ten railway guards per kilometre. The treaty has been completed. WELCOME PEACE. LONDON, September 4. Special references to- the peace between. Russia and Japan were made yesterday in many churches and chapels. Mr Asquith, speaking at i Abercairney on Saturday, declared that the peace was a signal—almost unparalleled —victory of reason over passion. A DISINGENUOUS MONARCH. LONDON, September 4. There are rejoicings at peace throughout General Linevitch’s army, and also at Vladivostock. The Qzar, in a message to General Linevitch, recapitulates that the Japanese demands were refused, and adds:—“Japan agreed to all Russia’s conditions, but asked for her former portion of Saghalien.” After praising the army—which he is convinced would have been able to inflict a serious defeat on the enemy —his Majesty declares that his duty to his own conscience and the people is not to again put the army’s valour to the test of fresh- and endless horrors of war in order to retain onehalf of a remote island. He had, therefore, accepted preliminary conditions of peace. WEIHAIWEI AND KAIOCHAU. LONDON, September 4. The newspapers are discussing the probability of Britain’s evacuation of VY eihaiwei. Germany lately decided to expend £750,000 on Kiaochau. ‘THE BALANCE OF POWER,” M. DE WITTE INTERVIEWED. WASHINGTON, September 2. In the course of an interview M. de Witte said the war had shown Russia the danger of distant enterprises when she was unprepared. He said he considered, however, that Russia’s proper sphere in Europe was now restored, and that in two years she would reconstitute her military power. M. de Witte went on to say that the Franco-Russian alliance must be strengthened, especially When the balance of power seemed to be compromised. He was sympathetically disposed towards a Russo-Japanese entente, and considered the possibility of a Russian agreement with England, France, and Japan was logical, and that such an agreement would be most advantageous to Russia. If in office, he would, reconimend it. •It was dishonest, continued M. de Witte, to represent England as disappointed at the conclusion of peace. The Russian plenipotentiary added that if France had been obliged to yield in order to avoid an embroiling— Russia being engaged elsewhere— France need no longer yield when her cause was j ust and reasonable. A FRENCH VIEW. PARIS, September 1. M. Hanotaux, an ex-Foreign Minister for France, in an article in the “Journal de Paris,” suggests that M. de Witte was arranging for a RussoJapanese treaty, hut the Marquis Ito’s intervention, the Mikado’s counsels, and the present peace precluded a Russo-Japanese rapprochement. The writer adds :—“God has forbidden Chancellors to grant a marriage-license where either party has previously been divorced.”