Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 38, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 October 1905 — PEACE TREATY TERMS [ARTICLE]

PEACE TREATY TERMS

TEXT OF THE RUSSO-JAPANESE AGREEMENT MADE PUBLIC. Text of Compact Given Out in Russia Same Day Mikado Puts It in Effect— Japanese Army Warned Not to Criticise Settlement. - 1 The text of the treaty of peace concluded by Russia and Japan at Portsmouth, N. H., Sept. 5 and signed by Emperor Nicholas and the Emperor of Japan, Oct. 14, has been made public, and is as follows:

The Emperor of Japan on one part and the Emperor of all the Russias. on the other part, animated by a desire to restore the blessings of peace to their countries, have resolved to conclude a treaty of peace and have for tjjis purpose named their plenipotentiaries; that is to say, for his majesty, the Emperor of Japan, Baron Koniura Jutaro, ‘Jusami, grand cordon of the Imperial Order of the Rising Sun, his. minister for foreign affairs, and his excellency, Takahira Komoro, Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure; his minister to the United States, and his majesty the Emperor of all the Russias, his excellency Serge Witte, his secretary of state and president of the committee of ministers of the empire of Russia, and his excellency Baron Roman Rosen, master of the imperial court of Russia, his majesty’s ambassador to the United States, who, after having exchanged their full powers, which were found to be in good and due form, have concluded the following articles:

Article 1. There shall henceforth be peace and amity between their majesties the Emperor of Japan and the Emperor of all the Russias, and between their respective states and subjects. " Article 2. The imperial Russian government acknowledging that Japan possesses in Korea paramount political, military and economical interests, engages neither to obstruct nor interfere with measures for guidance, protection and control which the imperial government of Japan may find necessary to take in Korea. It is understood that Russian subjects in Korea shall be treated in exactly the same manner as the subjects and citizens of other foreign powers; that is to say, they will be placed on’the same footing as the subjects and citizens of the most favored nation. It is also agreed that, in order to avoid causes of misunderstanding, the two high contracting parties will abstain on the Russian-Korean frontier from taking any military measures which maj’ menace the security of Russian or Korean territory. Russia Gives Up Manchuria.

Article 3. Japan and Russia mutually engage: ’ t . _ 1. To evacuate completely and simultaneously Manchuria except the territory affected by the lease of the Liaotung peninsula in conformity with the provisions of the additional article one annexed to this treaty, and, 2. To restore entirely and completely to the exclusive administration of China all the portions of Manchuria now in occupation or under the control of the Japanese or Russian troops with the exception of the territory above mentioned. The imperial government of Russia declare that they have not in Manchuria any territorial advantages or preferential or exclusive concessions in the impairment of Chinese sovereignty or inconsistent with the principle of equal opportunity. • .. Article 4. Japan and Russia reciprocally engage not ,to obstruct any general measures common to all countries which China may take for the development? of' the commerce or industry of Manchuria.

Article 5. The imperial Russian government transfer and assign to the imperial government of Japan, with the consent of the government of Chian, the lease of Port Arthur. Ta lien and the adjacent territory and territorial waters and all rights, privileges and concessions connected with or forming part of such lease, and theyjjjso transfer and assign to the imperial government of Japan all public works and properties in the territory affected by the above mentioned lease. The two contracting parties mutually engage to obtain the consent of the Chinese government mentioned in the foregoing stipulation.

The imperial government of Japan on their part undertake that the proprietary rights of Russian subjects in the territory above referred to shall be perfectly respected. .Article 6. The imperial Russian government enga'ge to transfer and assign to the imperial government of Japan without compensation and with the consent of the Chinese government the railway between Changchunfu and Kwanchigtsu and Port Arthur and all the branches, together with all the rights, privileges and properties appertaining thereto -in that region, as well as all the coal mines in said region belonging to or worked for the benefit of the railway. China’s Consent to Be Gained.

The two high contracting parties mutually engage to obtain the consent of the government of China mentioned in the foregoing stipulation. Article 7. Japan and Russia engage to exploit their respective railways in Manchuria exclusively for commercial and industrial ■ purposes a:.d nowise for strategic purposes.. It is understood that this restriction does not apply to the railway in the territory affected by the lease of the Liaotung peninsula. Article 8. The imperial governments of Japan and Russia, with the view to promote and facilitate intercourse and traffic, will as soon as possible conclude a separate convention for the regulation of their connecting railway services in Manchuria. In Article 9 Russia cedes to Japan all of Sakhalin Island below latitude 50, and both powers agree to construct forts or military works in Sakhalin. The straits of Tartary and Perouse are to re(main free to navigation. Article 10 protects Russians in ceded territory in their former rights. The treaty then says: Article 11. Russia engages to arrange with Japan for granting to Japanese subjects rights of fishery along the coasts of the Russian possession in the Japan, Okhotsk, and Bering seas.

It is agreed that the foregoing engagement shall not affect rights already belonging to Russian or foreign subjects in those regions. Article 12 provides for a commercial treaty on the most favored nation basis. Article. 13 provides for tlie repatriation of prisoners of war. It says Japan and Russia shall prepare statements of expenses incurred in maintaining prisoners, and adds: “Russia engages to repay to Japan, as soon as possible after the exchange-of statement, as auove provided, the difference between the actual amount so expended by Japan and the actual amount similarly disbursed by Russia.” M. Teraoutchl, Japanese Minister of War, has issued an order instructing the Japanese army in the field to abstain from criticising the terms of peace on the grounds that the declaration of peace and of war are entirely the outcome of sovereign power. His order forbids the criticism of either subject, especially by those engaged in military service. He advises the soldiers to utilize the opportunities of peace after the disbandment of their regiments by engaging in their respective occupations, always holding themselves in readiness to join the colors at the Emperor’s command.