The " Japan Times" gives the text of the letters that passed between General Steve and General Nogi, as follows The following report from the Commander of the Army investing Port Arthur, concerning the details of Stoos-sal's proposal to surrender, was received at the Imperial Military Headquarters at 3 a.m. on the 2nd inst.
About 5 p.m. on the Ist inst. the enemy's parlementaire arrived at our firat line south of Shuishiying and handed the following message to one of our officers, from whom I received it at 9 p.m, "No. 9,545.
"Port Arthur, December, 1904.
Your" Bzcelleney:—Judging from the general situation within the area of ghting, I think that farther resistant is noodles. In onder, therefore, to avoid further loss of life, T ask you to negotiate for the terms of surrender. Should you accept my proposal, you will appoint a commissioner in order to discuss the terms and process of surrender, and fix a place of meeting between your commissioner and ours.
avail myself of this opportunity to express my highest consideration.
"69 General Baron Nest, "Commander of the Japsneso Army "Investing Port Arthur.'
After due decision, I thereupon ordered our perlementaire to deliver. the followi ly to the enemy immediatoafter dawn to-da Headquarters of the Investing "'Army before Port Arthur.
"¢nd January, 1905.
Your Excellency:—I have the honour herewith to express my consent to the Rae ce ce.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.