Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1905 — TWO AUSPICIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TWO AUSPICIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Russian Reform Scheme To Be Promulgated on the Heir Apparent’s Birthday. PEACE ENVOYS NOW AT WORK AU the Preliminaries Ended and the Pint Meeting Held. Welcomed to Portemouth by the New Hampshire Executive—Public Doe* Not See the Ceremonial but Cheer* the Procession. Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 10.—The Japanese have handed the Russians the conditions of peace in writing. The Russians will consider them and submit their answer in writing. Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 9 —The Russian and Japanese peace missions have submitted themselves to Introduction and likewise to all of the ceremonies of welcome and reception on the part of the United States government and the state of New Hampshire,

and have begun facing each other for the purpose of ending the war in the far east and if possible consummating a permanent peace between the two great nations. Today they are meeting In the naval stores building of the Portsmouth navy yard. Credential* to Bo Examined. The Russian plenipotentiaries will examine the credentials and powers which the emperor of Japan has delegated to Baron Komura and Minister Takabira, and in turn the Japanese plenipotentiaries will scrutinize the powers which the Russian emperor has conferred upon de Witte and Baron Rosen. The second day's session, to take place tomorrow or Friday, It is expected will be devoted either to a consideration of the Japanese peace terms, or to a proposition for an armistice by the Russian plenipotentiaries. Acclaimed By the Populace. The landing and reception of the envoys was a function replete with ceremony. The envoys of both Japan and Russia were much affected by the demonstration of the public. In the procession through the streets three carriages were occupied by each mission, the Russians and Japanese being given alternate jiositions, the first, third and fifth carriages being Russian and the second, fourth and sixth Japanese. PUBLIC UW NO CEREMONIES Neither 1* the Navy Yard Nor at the Court House Function. The public was rigorously excluded from the navy yard, where the envoys came ashore. The landing was effected most expeditiously, and everything moved without the slightest interruption. The Russian suite was proceeding to the breakfast room from the landing when the salute from the battery announced the landing of the Japanese. The envoys were met at the court house by Assistant Secretary of State Peirce, who first presented de Witte to Governor McLane ami then Baron Komura. The senior Russian commissioner presented his suite to the chief executive of New Hamp shire, and the Japanese plenipotentiary did likewise. Governor McLane’s formal speech of welcome was responded to by a profound bow of both parties. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Rus slans were arranged on the right of the governor, the Japanese on the left, with Peirce on the immediate right. The group was then surrounded by the governor’s staff and council and the entire party was photographed. No one except the governor’s staff and council, United States Senators Burnham and Gallinger, Representatives Sulloway and Currier, and Assistant Secretary Peirce was present at the court house function, although crowds surrounded the building. When the Hotel Wentworth was reached the Russian suite ignored the elevator and climbed the stairs to the second floor. The Japanese, who arrived a moment later, were lifted to their floor. Both suites took dinner at the same time In the main dining room of the hotel, and after dinner both strolled on th* verandahs and grounds of the hotel. Credentials Informally Exchanged. Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 10.—The first meeting of the peace plenipotentiaries was of an entirely informal character, so informal, in fact, that Baron Komura did not bring bis let-

ter of credence to the Portsmouth navy yard, whereas de Witte was armed with the original document setting forth the powers conferred upon him. Baron Komura offered to send back to the hotel for his communication, but de Witte expressed his faith that the credentials were full and ample and it was arranged that official exchange of credentials should be made today. Later In the afternoon copies of the credentials were informally exchanged, In order that they might be examined. Outside of this the only thing of interest decided was that the envoys should hold two meetings dally—at 9:30 a. m. and 3 p. m., and that the protocols shall be written In French and English—the French text to be accepted in case of dispute. LIGHT AHEAD FOB RUSSIA First Repreeentative* of the People Since 1000 Are Soon to Meet. St. Petersburg, Aug. 9. —The Russian national assembly, the first gathering together of the representatives of the Muscovite people since Emperor Alexei Michaelovitcb, the second of the Roinauoffs, summoned the last zemsky sobor in the sevententh century, will be proclaimed on Saturday next. The final session of the special commission whlc has been considering the project as drafted by Minister of the Interior Bouligin and elaborated by the council of ministers was held at Peterhof yesterday. Its verdict upon the project as a whole was favorable, and at the conclusion of the session, before the assembled grand dukes, ministers, senators and other members of the commission, Emperor Nicholas set the seal of his approval thereto. Though the project has undergone a number of changes during the various conferences at I’eterbof it is understood that its main outlines are substantially In accord w r ith the project as it emerged from the council of ministers. In principle the national assembly will be a deliberative and consultative body for the discussion of measures laid before it by the emperor or his ministers. It will have the power to force the withdrawal of ministerial propositions by a two-thirds vote, which gives it at least a negative control over legislation. It will be a large body, probably of over 500 members, chosen by system of indirect elections, and the first session, it is understood, will be held in November. The elections will take place in October.

EQUIPMENT BUILDING, PORTSMOUTH NAVY YABD.