Milford chronicle., 1905-06-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

uEtesluE 70 AAuseld anu Japan Il uu piActtt
4. note in which he appeals to both belligel
ents to bring to a close the "terrible an
y lamentable conflict now being waged.
Il It is generally believed that the Presiden
did not take this step without first ascer
c tanning that it would prove acceptable t
q both powers and it is generally accepte'
9 as long stride in the direction of peace
: Should peace be accomplished as the di
rect result of the initiatory steps which
f, the President has taken it will add one t.
the many triumphs which have crowned
his administration.
Summing up the general situation II
the light of the best information obtain
able, it may be said that following the
Presidents frank presentation Of the sit
uation to the Russian Ambassador, which
occurred a week ago, the Car finally sent
for Ambassador Meyer, who, it will be
remembered is the member of the Repub-
lican National Committee, from Massa-
chusetts, and close friend of the Presi-
dents. Mr.. Meyer served his apprentice
ship in diplomacy at Rome where he was
Ambassador throughout the last Admin
istration. After his audience with the
Car the Ambassador cabled a full account
to the President, the character Of his
communication having been as closely
withheld as possible. He made it clear,
however, that the Car was still unwill-
ing to be placed in the position of suing
for peace, although he was grateful for
the Presidents friendly expressions and
intimated that he would be glad to know
something of the peace terms which Japan
would demand.
After a careful consideration of Ambas-
sador Meyers dispatches, the President |
sent for the japanese Minister, Kogoro
Takihira, who came Immediately to the
White House, despite the fact that he
was obliged to leave sick bed to do so.
What the character of his interview with
the President was can only be surmised,
but it is known that Japan still maintains
the position that she cannot define peace
terms until Russia has done more than
express a mild interest in their character.
The Mikado believes that the Gar should
first frankly declare that he is ready to
make peace if Japan's terms are moderate
and that then, the President, or other in
teTmedary, should secure from the Gar
an acceptance, at least in principle, OF
some of the conditions fundamental to
permanent peace. For instance, Russia
should, in the estimation Of Japan, recog-
nize the right of Japan to an indemnity
the property Of the permanent evacuation
of Manchuria, the permanence of Japan's
control of Corea, etc. This much accomp-
lished protocol could be signed and the
actual amount of the indemnity, the fate
of VladivOstok, and similar more specific
ques tions could be left for final settlement
between the principals. The Gar, on
the other hand, maintains thai it is ex-
tremely difficult for him to commit Rus
sia to peace without some appreciation OF
all that peace implies.
The rarest tact and diplomacy will be
required on the part of the President to
settle these differences and to, at the
same time avoid making any entangling
alliances. For instance, Japan, proftting
by the experience of her war with China,
when the fruits of victory were wrested
from her by the Concert of Europe and
divided between Russia, Great Britain,
France and Germany, is not unlikely to
ask President Roosevelt to guarantee, in
return for certain concessions by her that
no European power, other than Russia,
shall attempt to dictate the ultimate terms
of peace, once Japan has committed her
self to the peace proposition. 1t is also not
a remote probability that Great Britain
will seek once more to extend the cordial
which now exist between this
country and that by some agreement
closely approximating that alliance be-
tween Great Britain and the United States
which Lord Lausdowne has always re-
garded as exceptionally desirous.
The Loomis-BoweR episode has almost
into farce. Minister Russell
has arrived in Washington from Bogota
and when eross-exsmined by Mr. Bowen
in the presence Of Secretary Taft was en- ]
tirely unable to substantiate, in any par
ticular, the charges of the Minister. Min
ster Bowen has applied for instruction ,
to go to Venezuela to rake up evidence
against Secretary Loomis but it is entirely
Unlikely that his request will receive fav-
,rable action as he has thus far failed to i
prove the charges, which he preferred q
lgainst Mr. Loomis. There is one more
witness to be examined after which Min
ster Bowen will, it is generally believed, 4
,e relieved from further service in the a
diplomatic corps Of the United States. I
While certain slight indscretions on the :,
art OF Mr.. Loomis have been shown s.
here is no evidence that he has done S
nything discreditable and the prediction y
lade in these letters some time ago, that