The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-13
Japan In perfect good faith and with Gin
core desire to make peace.

Russia, It was declared to-day in officia
quarters, knows that Japan will not treat
with her II the present purpose of the st
Petersburg Government is only to ascertain
what Japan has to offer in the way Of terms
Japan insists that Russia must meet her
half way and be fully prepared, once the
negotiations are begun, to pursue them to
tho end. That the Russian acceptance OF
the Presidents offer meant an unequivocal
decision by the Gar and his ministers to
give up opposition to the Japanese forces
In the field and to conclude peace with the
least possible delay is firmly believed in
the best informed circles in Washington.
It became known to-day that the delay
Of this Government in carrying out it's in
tention to make public the texts OF the
Russian and Japanese responses to the
Presidents Joint note Of June 8. as soon as
both had been received. was due to two
causes. First, that Russia's response was
not delivered until to-day; second. that the
assent OF Russia was entirely oral, and to
that extent informal, although, IN the opin-
lon Of everybody Immediately concerned.
not less binding.
HOW THE ANSWERS WE'RE RECEIVED.
As stated in THE SUN Of yesterday. the
Japanese response was received by the State
DEPARTMENT on Saturday afternoon from
LLOYD C. Grisoom. the American Minister
1t TOXIC, to whom 1t had been handed by
the Japanese Foreign Office. and who imme-
diately oabled it to Washington. The
Russian response was cabled direct from
the St. Petersburg Foreign Ministry to
Count Cassini who was instructed to COM
munoate it verbally.
In these circumstances the President
felt that it would perhaps be unfair to
Russia to attempt to interpret his position
"a expressed orally by Count Cassini, and
perhaps unfair to himself to be expected
to put into writing for publication to the
world what had been said to him in con-
versation with the Ambassador OF the Car
ON a subject Of such far reaching impor-
lance.
1t IL expected, however, that formal
written response from Russia willibe handed,
IL 1t has not already been, to George " l..
Never the American Ambassador at st.
Petersburg, who will at once telegraph
It's text to the State Department. When
this has been received, the two answers
will be given to the press.
HOW THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE CONDUCTED.
The asserting answers to President Roose-
velt's proposition that the war between
Russia and Japan come to an end mark
The completion, in the opinion OF Washing
ton officials and diplomats, of the greatest
diplomatic move the world has ever known.
For the last two weeks events have taken
place in the White House, at conferences
between the President and representatives.
of foreign countries, which were history
making, but Of which the public knew alb
soIutely nothing.
Not TN til to-day did it become known
What enormous pressure was brought on
the Car to end the war. Throughout the
ecent preliminaries the Japanese Govern
inent maintained receptive attitude. and
the President was assured through Min
lister Takahira and through the American
Minister at Toxic. Mr.. Griscom, that the
Japanese Government was ready to discuss
the momentous and infinitely important
question Of peace.
GERMANY HELPED ROOSEVELT.
Germany, 1t was stated on unquestiona-
HE authority to-day, was with the Preei-
dent from the beginning, and Emperor
William personally counseed the Presi-
dent through Baron Speck Won Sternhurg,
the Kaiser's diplomatic representative in
Washington. Assurances that the Russian
Government would discuss peace came
to Washington on June in a cablegram
from George Won l.. Meyer, the American
Ambassador at ST. Petersburg, who on that
day had an audience with his Imperial
Majesty.
He presented in person the Presidents
views on the question Of peace, telling the
! ! . = r,D
wish that the war be brought to an end,
and expressing the opinion of the Presi-
dent that 1t would be useless for the hostil-
ties to continue.
On the very day that Ambassador Never
was received by Nicholas a personal COM
munication from Emperor William to the
Gar reached Tsarskoe- Selo. 1t counseled
and advised that the war be brought to
an end. The two communications we're
timed with definite precision, and their
simultaneous reception by the head of the
Russian Empire caused him personally to
tell Mr.. Meyer that, in principle, he &C
cepted President Roosevelt's advice.
France, too, was active. and counseled
that the war be ended. England, Austria
Hungary, Italy and other European nations
had nothing to do with the movement,
diuiouRn CHeSe fOWeIS were, 10 n certain
degree, cognizant Of what was going on.
The day folio wing Ambassador Meyers
reception by the Gar, June g. President
Roosevelt. assured by bot h the belli gerents
that his proposals would be we'll received,
sent out his note to Toxic and to st Pete
burg.
KAIsER's ADVICE TO ROOSEVELT.
Emperor Williams letter to the Gar,
coming with the pressure brought to bear
by the President, had much to do with the
decision reached by Emperor Nicholas.
In that period following the battle of the
Sea OF Japan, when President Roosevelt
We celebrating whether the time had come
for definite move for peace, Emper or
William acted, advising that step be
taken.
He counseled the utmost care so that the
first effort might be success, as a failure
OF one effort would make a second we'll
nigh impossible. The whole matter was
timed to the minute and has eliminated
In triumph of diplomacy.
Prior to any definite move by President
Roosevelt. the first step was taken when
Count Cassini, the Russian Ambassador,
called at the White House. This was on