The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-06-19
THE PEACE
 CONFERENCE Decision as to Naming of PlenipOtentiarieS. A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT
 - Each of BelligerentS to Send
 Three. cSsssp csncssnIss frebabis hesaers es the Respective Misslons--com- mendation of MT. Roose-
 velt's Diplomacy.

Uashin1ton. June 1S.-Russia ana Janan have tentatively decided to ap- point three pleEipotentiaries to repre- | sent them at Washington. M. NeidoH, | 1t is understood, has already accepted the chairmanshi pof the Russian ms l sion and is being consulted aDout the | selection of his assistants. but IL mas | moi vet been heard whether Marquis Ito's health will permit him to come as l the ranking Japanese plenipotentiary. | The belief here Is that Field Marsnai Yamagata will be designated in lto's place should the Marquis be unable to | accept. It is believed that the confer ence will convene here about the mid dle of August.
 Pending the official announcement of the plenipotentiaries little progress to- ward the arrangement of an armistice is being attempted on either side. It Is improbable however, that Japan would insist on Russia making the request. It is generally expected that when the missions have been announced the Pres ident will suggest to the belligerents the advisability of a limited truce and that this suggestion will be accepted. Instructions will then go to Linevitch and oyama to sign the armistice.
 Question of Armistice.
 The whole question of an armistice has been formally discussed at the White House and the belief in diplo- matic circles is that there will not be a hitch on this score. Japan prefers that the armistice should be signed in the field by the Russian and Japanese commanders and there are indications that this will find approval In St. Pe- tersburg.
 General commendation Is voiced in diplomatic circles of the Presidents tact In not communicating to Japan the suggestion from St. Petersburg for a reconsideration of the selection of Washington for the conference.
 It was learned today that the issu- ance of the authoritative statement on the subject from the Russian embassy here late last night was based upon ad- vices from St. Petersburg that the selection of Washington was to be of- ficially announced in the Russian capi- tai, thus removing all doubt of that score. There have been several expla- nations current among diplomats as to the reason for Russia's suggestion; one being that 1t was based on a misunder- standing about the finality of the de- cision to select Washington, and the other that the St. Petersburg Govern ment believed the President greatly preferred The Hague. Both explana- tions, however. are unofficial and in view of the Russian embassy's authori- tative statement the inciden tis regard ed sclosed. PessinistIc reports from Europe about the Washington confer ence are not shared by the diplomats here A European ambassador who has from the outset been in close touch with the negotiations said tonight:
 Dealt Direct.
 What Europe does not seem to realize is that in these negotiations the President has been dealing not with the war party in Russia, not with Count Lamsdorff, but with Emperor Nicholas direct. There is a thorough under standing between the President and the Emperor. The latter fuller appreciat- ed the motives which prompted the Presidents appeal for peace and sent in reply as responsive an answer as he felt Russia could afford to make. That Russia does not go into the conference pledged to peace Is fully understood. but this does not mean that her pleni- pitentiaries will not come clothed with full powers to negotiate peace. provided Japan's terms be reasonable. or does not reflect in any way upon the sim cerity with which Russia enters into the conference.
 Today passed with no sign of diplo- matic actions. Neither the Russian an,ba assador nor the Japanese minister were callers at the White House today. President Roosevelt spent the latter part of the evening quietly at the White House after an outing of some