Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-10
Peace Plenipotentiaries to
Meet at Portsmouth, N. d.
ARRANGING DETAILS
ENJOYS TO BE TAKEN TO OYSTER
BAY.
After Calling on the President They
Will Be Conveyed in Naval Yes
sells to Portsmouth.

Assistant Secretary Peirce today an
nounced that the plenipotentiaries of Rus
sa and Japan appointed to agree on terms
Of peace had agreed upon Portsmouth,
y. H., the meeting place for the
sessions of the peace conference to be held
outside of Washington. Assistant Secre-
tary Peirce has been specially commission
ed by the President to make all arrange
ments for the meeting at Portsmouth and
is preparing to leave for that place TO con-
fer with the commandant of the navy yard.
The plenipotentaries will assemble at
New York early in August and be taken to
oyster Bay on two protected cruisers of the
Cleveland type to pay their respects to the
President and be formally presented by him
to each other.
Orders have been issued for the May
flower to join the Dolphin at Oyster Bay
early In August to receive the plenipoten-
tiaries. With the envoys aboard the two
vessels. under the escort of small cruiser,
will proceed to Portsmouth.
Mr.. Peirce's Trip.
While the sessions will be held In a
navy yard building the pIenipotentiaries
and their staffs will live in nearby hotels.
Assistant Secretary Peirce Is going to
Portsmouth to inspect the navy yard build
ings to ascertain what will be required TO
fit up the building in which the meeting
will be held. 1t is stated that large build
Ing has just been erected to be used by
the equipment branch of the service, which
has large and cOmmodous rooms. that will
amply accommodate all the needs of the
ENJOYS. Mr.. Peirce will also visit the no.
tells and make arrangements for the ac-
commodation of the ENJOYS.
The plenipotentiaries of both countries
assented to the holding of the conferences
10 vnNra lFplaF1 -lr6 pnrtC-
mouth. N H, which, besides having the
advantage of being cool and comfortable
place for this season of the year. has the
advantage of offering a building on govern
ment soil, which is regarded as an impor-
tant consideration. This government. it is
stated did not in any wise dictate as to the
selection. Portsmouth was proposed be-
cause of the advantages 1t possessed, and
the selection was mutually acceptable to
the peace ENJOYS of the belligerents.
Unlikely to Come Here.
While it is saids that it will rest wholly
with the pleasure of the peace ENJOYS as
TO whether they desire to formally meet in
Washington before entering upon the nego-
tiations for peace, it is said TO be more
likely that the first formal meeting will be
held Portsmouth. as it would entail much
Inconvenience to come to Washington after
the formal visit to the President at Oyster
Bay. 1t would be much more pleasant to
go direct from Oyster Bay TO Portsmouth
and begin the work there than to make
visit 10 Washington for the sake of form.
The Place of Meeting.
The navy yard at Portsmouth is located
on an island In the middle of the bay.
bridge connects the island with Kittery,
Maine on one side, while the only commu-
nication between the island and Ports
mouth Is by boat. Thus, the yard is prac-
tlcally Isolated.
be held is a three-story brick and steel
structure. which cost S125.50O 1t is 200 feet
long by ~ feet wide, and was completed in
May last. II is located near the center of
the yard. 1t was designed for a general
storehouSe, and has Office rooms for the ac-
commOdation of the storage officers
Mr. Takahira. the japanese minister.
VIII be an early visitor at Oyster Bay to
discuss the arrangements for the confer
ence Expecting that some place in New
England would certainly be selected
Baron Rosen chose Manchester for the
summer headquarters of his embassy.
Negotiations for Armistice.
Negotiations for an armistice are not
expeet'd to be concluded until after the
plehpOtentiaries meet. 1t is pointed out
that the beginning of the rainy season in
the war zone removes the necessity for
the immediate signing of an armistice.
Little doubt is felt however that this
Will be the first subject discussed by the
plenlpotentiaries, and probably their ini-
tial act will be the signing of a Drotocol
providing for the cessation of hostilities
for limited. period.
China's Request.
Chiua's request to be represented in the
washington peace conference on the ground
that she Is vltally interested in its proceed
iugs has been received by the President
and informally transmitted to the beIIiger-
fa
the formal replies Is not stated but il IS
understood that while Russia is inclined 10
favor the suggestion, Japan will not con-
sent to 1t. Japan has already made public
her assurances that Manchuria is to be re-
stored 10 China. That is one of the prtn-
clples for which she says she has been
hEntnS. Japan regards herself as fully
capable or executing that promise without
the assistance of China and in view OF
China's inability before the war to cope
with Russia in Manchuria, the japanese
government Is unable to see what possible
service Chinese representative would be
in the Washington conference. Moreover
Japan has all along taken the position that
when peace negotiations were begun they
would be conducted directly with Russia
II Is altogether unlikely that the Washing
ton government will press the claim OF
China and the official view here fails 10
sympatnize with the idea.
Building Easily Made Ready.
PORTSMOUTH, y. H.. July 1o.-Rear
Admiral Mead, who Is in command OF the
navy yard, said that having had no in
timation that the peace conferences would
be held at the navy yard, he could not
at this time tell what arrangements would
be made for their accommodation.
The new general store building, just COM
pleted, is the largest and most imposing
OF any in the yard, being four stories in
height and of ample dimensions. IL is of
brick and brownstone and at present is
unoccupied. Rear Admiral Mead said that
tt could be readily furnished for the needs
of the COnferceS.
Ihe location of the navy yard Is one Of
ferlnS all the advantages of a northern
summer resort. II occupies an island In the
Iiscata1ua river, almost In the ocean. Its
view commands the wide mouth OF the
river. which is the boundary between Maine