The Holly Chieftain

ARMISTICE AGREED UPON.
Oyama and Linevitch Instructed to Arrange Terms.

Portsmouth, N. H., Sept. 1.—Japan, through Baron Komura, has agreed to the immediate conclusion of an armistice. At 1 o'clock last night Mr. Takahira went to Baron de Rosen's room and explained that he and Baron Komura had received instructions to arrange terms of an armistice. Baron Rosen immediately communicated with M. Witte and it is probable that a meeting will be held to-morrow morning for the proclamation of a complete suspension of hostilities, preliminary to the arrangement of the details by the two generals upon the battlefield.

Rapid progress was made yesterday in the drafting of a treaty of peace. Baron Komura, at M. Witte's request, to-morrow will probably fix a day for its signature.

Russia's consent to a suspension of hostilities reached M. Witte last night in a cablegram from Count Lamsdorf, whom Emperor Nicholas has empowered to deal with the important phase of the negotiations.

General Linevitch has been informed of the practical conclusion of peace and directed to hold himself in readiness to open with Field Marshal Oyama negotiations for an armistice, and the order for the suspension of hostilities and the signing of the truce will now go forward from St. Petersburg, as M. Witte has been informed by Baron Komura that the Emperor of Japan has also given his consent and has empowered Marshal Oyama to conduct the negotiations with the Russian commander in the field.

Having advised General Linevitch of the situation, Russia will not hold herself responsible for any clash which may occur before the notification of Japan's consent to an armistice. On this point, however, no serious anxiety is felt here.

So rapidly and well is Mr. de Martens, with Mr. Dennison, performing his delicate and important task in drafting the treaty, that he was able to return from the navy yard to-night to report to M. Witte the practical completion of ten articles of the treaty. It is expected the treaty will in its entirety consist of thirteen articles, exclusive of the preamble.