Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-16
lfdcial Statement of Result Of Negotia-
tiOps Issued by Secretary Loeb.
RESULT OF A COMPROMISE
Csars Choice Was Paris, While the MikadO
Preferred Che Foo.
CONFERENCE WILL MEET IN AUGUST
Little Probability that PlenIpOten-
tiaries VIII Get Together for
Two MISUNDERSTANDING
Protocol.

WASHINGTON, June 15-America's ma
tional capital has been selected as the seat
of negotiations between the plenipotenti-
aries of Russia and Japan for a treaty of
peace The choice of Washington as the
| location of the peace conference marks
| another forward step in the negotiations
toward ultimate peace in the far east in
sttuted by President Roosevelt.
| Official announcement of the selection of
Washington was made by Secretary Loeb
at the White House at 1:23 p. m. today. 1t
was in typewritten form and read as fol-
| lows:
| When the two governments were unable
! to agree upon either Che Foo or Paris the
president suggested The Hague, but both
| governments have now requested that
| Washington be chosen as the place OF
meeting and the president has accordingly
| Washington will be selected.
This statement was supplemented shortly
| afterward by a semi-oficlal announcement
that "after meeting and organizing, the
| plenipotentiaries OF the two governments,
| If it should be found to be uncomfortably
hot in Washington, may adjourn the meet
| ing to some summer resort in the north,
and there continue their sittings until such
time as the weather In Washington shall be
more comfortable"
Result of Compromise.
Now that some of the details of the ne
gotations, which have been pending for
more than two weeks, are known, the selec-
| ton of Washington is regarded as the only
| logical solution of the problem presented to
| the belligerent governments. After the ac-
ceptance by Russia and Japan of President
Roosevelts proposition that they consent
to consider the question of peace, Russia
indicated Paris the most desirable place
for the meeting to negotiate a treaty, and
II Nl,l h
ject rested for forty-eight hours Finally
Japan declined to consider Paris, for OBJ
vious reasons, and Russia objected to the
! holding of the conference in any oriental
city. Washington then was suggested as a
place where the belligerents could meet on
| Lequal grounds undisturbed either by po-
| litical or personal influences. AS a means
of facilitating the negotiations, the presi-
dent suggested that the conference be held
: at The Hague, the seat of the International
arbitration tribunal and the location Of the
J first session Of the conference called at the
. instance of Emperor Nicholas of Russia.
He indicated that for both practical and
sentimental reasons, The Hague would be
! a most desirable place of meeting for the
plenipotentiaries. Further consideration of
the subject developed the practically un-
alterable objection of Japan to any Euro
pean capital as a seat for the conference.
II objected particularly to The Hague, be-
, ueving that It was too far within the
sphere of Russian influence, and for
. similar reason It declined favorably to con-
slider Geneva. Until today, however, Jap
I ans irreconcilable opposition to the selec-
, ton of any European capital was not
, known definitely. At a conference which
Kogoro Takahira, the Japanese minister.
, had with President Roosevelt today, he
conveyed to the president the Japanese
4 governments final refusal to consent to
3 the holding of the conference in Europe.
= Talxahira at white House.
K Minister Takahira reached the executive
( office at 1O:45 a. m, and was ushered at
S once into President Roosevelt's private Of
e fee. They remained in conference for an
Q hour and twenty-five minutes The un-
- usual length of the interview, held at a
time when scores of people, many of them
having previous engagements with the
president, were awaiting an opportunity
to see Mr.. Roosevelt, understood that 1t
was of notable Importance. The confer
ence was not pre-arranged, but the sig
nificance of the advices which Minister
Takahira bore from his government in
duced the president to deny himself to all
callers until the conclusion of the con-
| ference. As he left the White House, the
- Japanese minister declined to discuss the
, | that the negotiations were proceeding IA
| vorably. He added that negotiations OF
;, | this character constituted "a long jour-
,I ney."
~ The refusal of Japan to agree to the
holding of the conference in Europe was
communicated by President Roosevelt to
the Russian ambassador and likewise
cabled to st. Petersburg. While the presi.
70 dent did not act in the capacity of ar
| l..
was in position, after the conference with
Minister Takahira and his communication
- to Ambassador Cassini, to formally an
: nounce the selection of Washington as thC
seat Of the conference.
Shortly before o'clock this Afternoon
Ambassador Cassini called at the White
House by appointment and was received by
the president in the blue ROOM The pres
dent explained to the ambassador the ma
i ture of his interview with Minister Taxa
u hira ana conveyed to him the personal as
X surance that the American government
N would do all in it's power, which It properl!
N might do, TO afford the plenipotentiaries o.
D the two governments comfortable and con
W venient facilities for the transaction o.
% their supremey important duties.
m Delay of Several Weeks.
In view of the selection of the seat OF tn,
conference It Is expected that, within
b. few days at most, Russia and Japan viii
m announce formally the names Of their re
10 spective plenipotentiarie3. It is deemed
n likely also, that coincidentally with tn,
- announcement Of the plenipotentiaries al
L. agreement will be reached to the tim,
:, of holding the conference. While the dat,
" is not so important a thing the place 1
Or is Of particular concern. especially at th
season, not only to those who are activel!
~ N also IN dinlopna list
IN generally who are accredited to this cap
ital. A midsummer conference anywhere
''' so prolonged as a peace conference is likel,
m to be, is not regarded with entirely pleas
ant anticipations. II is expected, however
:" that the proposed conference is scarcel,
Of likely TO be convened before the middle o
August and perhaps. not until a late