Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-12

ger was viSibly nervous. When the tall
Russian came out of the reception room and
started for the anteroom Savoy grabbed up
the great fur coat and ran toward him. He
helped the ambassador into it and handed
him his hat before. the anteroom door was
reached. and thus did Eddie -as he thought,
pour oil upon the troubled waters. A mo-
ment later the Japanese minister hurried
INTO the hall, on his way to the reception
room, but the comte's tall figure was dis
appearing in the distance.
Secretary Hay has .eel buster than the
head of any other foreign Office in neutral
territory since the war in the east began.
his task in whipping the other powers into
Inc over the matter of the Integrity" and
entity of China was of course re-
sponsible one, and he has been in electric
touch with our diplomats the world over
during the past few weeks. All of his
dispatches of a diplomatic character must
go out in cipher and all of those received in
reply must be translated from cipher into
English. A year ago last spring Congress
made appropriation for a cipher code to be
placed with all legations. ep1ba ssies and
consulates &C the United States. The State,
apartment -t"died all systems and finally
designated for use the Western Union tele
graphic code and international cable direc-
tory of the world the safest and most
expeditions.
Some Swift Moves.
The alertness demanded of our Secretary
of State during such stirring times as
at the diplomatic chess board during a few
days last week. Following Japan's attack
at Chenulpo, Russia makes move by COM
planning to our ambassador at st. Peters
purG that such an attack in neutral terri
tory was violation of in ernational law
and e which endangered foreign shipping.
Japan at onco gives notice Of q protectorate
over Korea, which allows her military oc-
cupa ton. Russia makes reply that such
treaty is invalid because Korea negotiated
1t under duress. Japan then makes the
clever reply of announcing a treaty guaran-
teeing the independence and integrity of
Korea after the necessity of military occu-
patton has vanished. Russia replies that
she Will pay no attention to treaty nego-
tiated after Korea violated her neutrality
with Russia. Meanwhile the Secretary of
State is negotiating for the opening of
Win, in Korea, and is keeping eye al
ways on our commerce with the orient.
Russia wins he knows that she will claim
Korea. Thus will the game go on until
the treaty of peace between the warning
nations Is signed. Meanwhile dispatches
from our ENJOYS in the orient and Russia
are pouring in upon Secretary Hay every
hour.
"Good Offices"
The entire diplomatic colony in Washing
ton is all agog over the war. 1t is the sole
topic among the men accredited here by
the powers They, of course, keep Secre-
tary Hay informed as 20 the attitude of
their governments, and he is thus keeping
In touch with the entire civilized world.
Moreover, he has considerable routine bus-
ness with the Japanese minister, for We
have extended our good offices to japan
during the conflict, and our ambassador t
ST. Petersburg technically represents Japan
for the time being, just as England acted
for US in Spain during our war with that
kingdom.
To deal with such an active factor in
diplomacy as John Hay has grown to be,
Russia and Japan must, of course, be rep
resented here by diplomats counted among
their shrewdest. Comte Cassini was called
the cleverest diplomat of Europe by those
who heralded his coming here He is sup
posed to have been selected for this post
because OF Russian uneaSineSS over the pos
slbllty of an Anglo-AmeTican alliance, and
that he might use his influence to antago-
n1Ze such a move. In recent weeks there
have been persistent rumors of his recall
because OF his governments diSpleaSure a t
his failure to prevent the "telegraphic rat
ification" of our new treaty with China and
to convert Americans to more of a pro-
Russian view of the eastern question He
knows the eastern situation like a book.
having been Russian minister to China just
before being sent here. Mr.. Taxa hira has
the advantage of being a younger man
than the comte by about fifteen years-if
that be an advantage in diplomacy. He
was no stranger in this country wnen he
aS1ved here as minister having been
charge d'affaires of the Japanese legation
here when still in his twenties and consul
general in New York twelve years ago. He
has also held the post of charge d'affaires
of his country in Korea, and consequently
understands conditions in that kingdom
1t Is with these two functionaries that
Secretary Hay has most to deal during
these stirring times. Meanwhile he has
closed the Panama deal. is putting some
finishing touches treaty with France
providing for the settlement of all future
disputes between that republic and ours by
arpltratlon, ana is negotiating for similar
treaties with Great Britain, Italy and Hol-
land. And It's said that after thus actively
engaging all day in the making of world
history he still finds time in the evenings
TO scrlbble off poem or two, just for re-
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.