Show general I 1 linevitch has been informed of peace and Is ready to open armistice negotiations portsmouth N H aug 31 rapid progress had been made today in tho drafting of the treaty ot peace baron komura at mr wittes request tomorrow will probably fix a day for its alg nature dussias Rus sias consent to a suspension ot reached mr tonight in a from count lamsdorff Lama dorff whom emperor nicholas has empowered to deal with the important phase of the negotiations although general linevitch has been informed of practical conclusion ot peace and directed to hold himself in readiness to open with field marshal oyama negotiations for an armistice the order tor me suspension ot hostilities and the signing 0 the trace will not go forward from st petersburg until mr witte has been informed by baron komura that the emperor of japan has also given his consent and has empowered marshal oyama to conduct negotiations with the russian commander in tiro field havig advised general linevitch of the situation russia win not hold her belt responsible for any clash which may occur befaro japan has consented to an armistice on this point however no serious anglety is held and the Japan esp reply is momentarily expected so rapidly and well Is dr DC martens with mr dellson Den lson performing hla delicate and important task of drafting the treaty that he was able to re turn from the navy yard tonight to rei port to mr witte the practical completion of the treaty it Is expected that the treaty will in its entirety consist of twelve articles exclusive of 1 it Is bett sved that the japanese or are said to have numbered thirteen only twelve however were presented to lae russians as president roosevelt Is credited with persuading the japanese claries before the convening of the conference to withdraw one of the con which he regarded as unjust whether this thirteenth demand dealt with the fortifications at vladivostok cannot be learned having waived ahrea ot ahe demands namely the indemnity the interned ships and the limitation ot dussias Rus sias naval strength in the far east the japan ese final conditions were nine several of these however will be divided in the treaty and grouped into two or more articles mr witte Is exceedingly anxious to sail for home on september in the meantime ho Is to take leave of president roosevelt and personally present the thanks of his emperor for the presidents assistance he Is therefore there fora doing what he can to hasten the drafting of the treaty which he would probably be prepared to sign by tuesday or wednesday of next week at the latest unless some obstacle arise the only difficulties which have thus far appeared have been due to the ambiguous language of certain parts of the dally protocols which form the framework of the treaty it Is here that the long experience and recognized authority of the famous international ter lawyers are proving of assistance si to group as well as russia both mr de martens and mr delson are selecting with great care the language of each article in order that the treaty may furnish no ground for differences la future and accurately record the exact spirit aa well as the substance of the agreements concluded in the conference by the plenipotentiaries it thus happens that the framers some times spend an hour in the selection of on word to find finally that they are both striving to express the identical idea watte stood firm st petersburg aug 31 M witte interviewed at portsmouth ort by the correspondent of the clovo Is reported to have said you see what by standing firm I 1 was in a frightful position I 1 had not the right to accept a compromise and a rupture seamed likely to enlist the sympathies of U on tha side of japan president roosevelt appealed to my patriotism humanity aad good sense fortunately I 1 succeeded in holding out to the end the japanese could not read in my face what was passing in my heart from the outset I 1 assumed such an indifferent tone that it eventually carried conviction when the japanese presented their written conditions I 1 laid them aside without looking at them and spoke of something elss on leaving the room I 1 forgot the conditions laying on the table when ono of the japanese drew my attention to this asking me it I 1 did not wish to take away secret documents which I 1 might read I 1 put the papers carelessly in my pocket it was thus to the last minute of the negotiations |