The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-08-02
THE PEACE DOVES DANGER

The Department of State has a
difficult, momentus and most per-
picking job on its hands at present.
It Is the matter of arranging for
the meeting of the Russian and
Japanese plenipotentiaries at the
Washington Portsmouth conference.
The most careful attention must be
given to all established rules Of dip
lomatic etiquette and extreme care
must be employed in order that
neither of the ambassadors nor their
attaches may be offended ever so
slightly at some unfortunate blum
der or unintentional violation OF
the code of etiquette.
The dove of peace Is even endan-
pered. in the opinion of the Wash
ington Post because of the posslbli-
ity of disaster in connection with
the matter of etiquette
eNThe first great duty of the State
Department will be the conveyance
of the peace ENJOYS and their re-
spective encourages to Oyster Bay
and their proper presentation to the
President" that paper says "Scrup-
uIous care must be exercised in or
der to keep the ENJOYS apart. OF
ficially they are unaware OF the eN-
istence of their adversaries. II
through blunder or crime they
should be permitted to meet, the hor-
rifving spectacle might be presented
of n personal encounter, in which the
dove of peace would have small
chance of emerging alive.
eNThe President will receive the
envovs of Russia and Japan on the
Mavfiower. Which party shall first
ascend the gangplank? That Is the
well-nigh insoluble problem agItat-
ing the Department of State. The
embassies are of equal rank, and
precedence granted to one will he .
mortal insult to the other. VIII
tbe Richelieu in charge of these
matters draw straws with himself
or will he hit upon the happy eX-
pedient of making an extra wide
panpplank, upon which the envoys
breast to breast, may scramble with
ont impairment of prestige into the
presence of the President?
(which envoy shall be presented
first to the President? If NJ. Wittc
how can the State Department
thereafter look Baron Komura in
the face? If Baron Komura, may
not NJ. White with propriety rcfuso
to consider any overtures of peace
The only escape from an awkward
situation will be the simultaneous
presentation of the ENJOYS by tive
Assistant Secretaries. of State of alb
solutely equal rank, speaking synch
ronously. and the concurrent eXten
sion of the Presidents two hands il
impartial greeting.
$50 far, so good. The incredibl,
delicate task is not impossible o.
execution. But the President is t.
entertain the ENJOYS at luncheon
Now the questionable supreme
questions, who shall sit mt his
right, in the place of honor? NJ
Witte is the first of the Russian en-
VOWS and precedes Baron Rosen, al
though the latter is an ambassador
representing the person of the EN-
peror. Baron Komura is not ar
Ambassador, but as minister of for
eion affairs he makes ambassadors
vet Mr.. Takahira is not an ambas
sador, but minister. viii the
the President ask NJ. Witte to take
the first place, and thereby put an
affront upon the victorious Japan
csc. or will he give Baron Komura
the seat of honor, at the risk OF pro-
ionainp n hideous and costly way?
eve give it mp. The question IS
too complicated for ordinary hands.