Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-02
STEPS TOWARD PEACE
Count Cassini's Conference
With the President.
HAD A LONG TALK
CALL GENERALLY REGARDED AS
SIGNIFICANT.
It is Believed That Russia is Ready to
Listen to Offer-The Japanese
Minister'S Visit.

1t is confidently believed that somewhat
vague preliminary steps in negotiations
for peace between Russia and Japan were
taken this afternoon, when President
Roosevelt and Count Cassini, the Russian
ambassador. had a long talk in the pr1-
vate parlors of the White House Count
Cassini called upon the President by ap-
pointment at 2:3O o'clock, and no time
was lost in getting to conversation The
visit of the Russian ambassador has been
expected for several days. but he has de-
layed making it for reasons of his own.
Before making the visit Count CaSsini
was fully acquainted with the willing
ness of the President to do whatever was
in his power to bring about peace. Conse-
quently he did not enter bllndly into talk
on the subject.
The significance of the visit of the am
bassador is that he is fully aware of the
International expectations that peace pro-
poSalS will soon start, and that IN MOST
circles President Roosevelt is looked 10 as
the best person to bring about tentative
understanding of the combatants.
Russia Ready to Listen.
This leaves little doubt that Count Cas-
sinis visit was a receptive one, and thal
he stood ready to absorb suggestions from
the President and transmit them to the
czar. 1t is not believed that he Is au-
thorized to do more than receive whatever
suggestions are made, and that ne is not
empowered to make offers himself. Ihe
Russian government has apparently not
reached the stage of making proposals, but
it is evidently to the point when IT IS
ready to listen to what the other side mas
to say or find out what the other SIDE may
say when the time comes to talk.
Japanese Minister'S Call.
Kogoro Takahra, the Japanese minister
called upon the President yesterday.
There is nothing definite, was his state
ment when asked if there was any news OF
peace "All this talk about peace, ne
stated sis mere gossip. 1t is TOO early 10
talk about peace. Russia must have tlme
to think it over to consider all phases OF
the situation and when she has done SO
there may be ground for peace talk Right
now there Is not.
Mr.. Takahira was asked WhetheT ne hau
submitted to the President terms up on
which Japan would make peace. He saio
he had not, and that Japan was not ready
to state her terms.
The Current Belief.
DESPITE the bland denials of the japanese
minister that he has submitted terms upon
which Japan will make peace, the OPINION
prevails that Mr.. Takahira told the Presl-
dent in a general sort of way what Japan
would ask at this stage of the game This
would enable the President to tell Count
Cassini what would be the conditions OF
the start off.
Count Cassini will cable his government
just what information he has obtained from
the President. He will, in turn, communl-
cate to the President whatever his govern
ment may have to say in response to the
demands of Japan, and this method may
gradually lead into more definite negotia-
tions which may not be reached for three
or four days or week, by which time Ja-
pans terms would be fully developed and
placed before the Russians.
The cabinet did not touch upon peace
matters today The President is carefully
guarding any communications he may have
received from any source, and is not dis
cussing it with the cabinet with any per-
son except those authorized. Whatever he
does in the way of getting the belligerent
nations together will be conducted person.
ally and not through the State Department
al least not at this time, SO his plans do not
require discussion by the cabinet