Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-08
Preliminary Negotiations between
Russia and Japan Have
Begun.
PRESIDENT NOT MEDIATOR
He Acts ss "The Friendly ChnuncI ol
COmMunica atiOO"-Nussia Wants to
Know Jnpan's Tcrms-The Cxnr's
Reply 10 the Presidents OF.
fer ls IN Washington.

WASHINGTON. June Pr climnary peacs
negotiations between Russia aud Japau
arc generally believed to he under way
and it is conceded that President Nuose.
veii in all probability will act not rs
mediator, but as the friendly channel Of
communication" There is as yet no off,
cia admission that Russia has accepted
what Count Cassni in his cablesram "a
Count l.arnsdorf last week described aa
the offer OF good will Of the President"
although instructions to tho smbassadof
are believed to have reached here tonight
in long cablegram which reached the
Russian embassy quite late and was laid
bC fore tho ambassador after he had starred
To retire. After reading tho despatch ths
ambassador retired for the night at in
hour earlier than usual. All that can ho
authoritatively said regarding this cables
gram is that it concerned Count Cassini'a
cahceram OF last week.
Immediately upon his return - his leGa-
ton tonight after long conference with
the President, Mr.. Takatir1, the jap
ano*c minister. began the rrcpara tion OF
a despatch 10 his government upon which
'ic was occupied urtil quite late. The sit.
uat'on is too delicate in this moment for
Inc to say anything" the minister re.
marked. II can be stated that the Frcsi.
dent through Mr. Takahira is cndca vor.
ing to get some definite idea regarding
Jaran's peace terms Mr.. .akahra is
swing hiin ali the assistance that he can,
b't the most he can 10 is to inform his
government of tn Pre- sident's wishes and
I" emphasize his personal conviction that
tho President can be trusted absolutely
to guard Japans legitimate interests. In.
deed. u fortunate phase of the present
situation is that both Mr.. Takahira and
Count Cassini ara personally convinced
OF the Presidents absolute .npartialty
and sincerity OF purpose in the delicate
undertaking which he has silctlldsred
| AT the White House up to a late hour il
was declared that the important cable
gram from MIR. Meyer had not yet reached
the President.
WANTS TO KNOW JAPAN's TERMS.
Diplomatic Washington was tonight
aroused to n point of expectancy un.
c0ualed since the inception OF the war in
| tho Far East. by tho news from St. Te.
tersburg OF the Cars wish TO know Ja-
pans peace terms. The Associated Press
bulletin announcing the cabling OF n mes
sage to the Russian ambassador at Wash.
inGton and Paris that Russia wished to
know Japans peace terms was immedl-
atcly communicated to the diplomats inosy
| interested.
| 1t was not long before the Russian
embassy was bcseiged with callers,
hut the ambassador was without adj
vices on the subject. though for sever
| al days past he has been anxiously
| awaiting an acknowledgment of his
cablegram detailing his conversation
with the President last Friday.
| Count Cassini has not yet made an
appointment at the White House.
| The instructions to Amba ssadoc
Meyer who. called al Tsa-skoe-Selo TO-
day did not provide for formal ten.
der of good offices.
| While it is impossible TO give their
text they may be correctly paraphased
/ in these words:
| Find out from the Czar what We
can do to assist an early peace"