Omaha daily bee., 1905-06-23
PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS
President Expected to Give Out Important
Information Today.
cAsSlNl TAXES NO PART IN CONFERENCE
Russian Ambassador at Washington
VIII Not BE one of the Pleni-
potentiaries to Talk
of Ending war.

potenttartes to Ink
of Ending war.
WASHINGTON. June I'm official ana
diplomatic circles the return Of the presi-
dent is awaited with great interest because
Of the understanding that in case there has
been any new definite step in the peace
negotiations it would be announced in a
statement from the White House.
Secretary Hay has a number Of cable
! grams from Toxic and st. Petersburg which
he will take to the White House tomor-
row. and a conference on the general situa-
| ton and the outlook for an armistice will
3 follow. In the absence Of the president,
/ Secretary Hay has been in charge Of the
F negotiations but all information on the
subject has been withheld at the state de-
partment
Despite their strong belief that it would
/ greatly further the cause Of peace If the
! belligerents would avoid clash between
I their armies, pending the Washington con-
ference. the president and Secretary Hay
! are aware Of the wish Of the japanese that
/ before asserting to an armisuce, it receive
more definite assurances regarding Russia S
! intentions.
/ Mr.. Takahirs. the Japenese minister. is
row. and Sir Mortimer Durand, the British
, ambassador, will be in Washington by the
end Of the week.
/ No assistance is expected in washing
ton from the London government in what
ever efforts the president may initiate to
bring about immediate arnisuce or to
prevent a clash before the convening Of
the Washington conference. While the
London government as an ally Of Japan
has shown itself IN hearty sympathy with
the presidents policy to bring the belliger-
ents together. it feels that it cannot un-
dertake to suggest an armistice at this
time.
Rumors from the Front.
ST. PETERSBURG. June 23-2l0 a m
News from the battlefield is exceedingly
meagre. A press telegram Of Tuesday :
date speaks Of rear guard action" and
there are rumors in the city that the Rus
sian army is retreating; but the latest dis
patches received from Lieutenant General
Linevitch bearing the same date declared
briefly that the japanese advance had
paused A dispatch from Gunshu pass Of
Wednesdays date says that the operations
Of the japanese apparently ended after
the last fight and they appeared 10 bC
merely clearing their immediate front.
II is probable that the Russian advanced
lines are crossing the railroad and will
continue their retirement more OF less hur.
riedly in order to avoid being hanked and
pocketed until the positions at sipingha
are reached. The main forces seemingly
are not yet in collision.
Colonel Todygensky, one OF the CORE
spordents Of the Associated Press, diec
at Harbin Of blood poisoning.
Cassini Takes No Part
The Russ says it is authorized 10 sa!
that Count Cassini the retiring Russian
ambassador at Washington. will not par
ticipate in the peace negotiations, but vii
leave the United States Immediately upoT
, the arrival Of Baron Rosen, his successor
, From independent sources the ASSOCIATED
2 Press confirms the statement of the Rus
. that Count Cassini will have no part in tht
peace negotiations.
. Foreign Minister Lamsdorff is indisposed
, 1t is understood his condition is not seri
GUS but his physician was called in las
night and ordered the minister not TO leay,
Y his bedroom today. There is no intima
! ton, however. that this will appreciably de
lay the pending negotiations. The question
e Of a temporary suspension of hostiliue
S seems 10 rest with Japan. In the meantim
= the chencellories Of ST. Petersburg an
- TOXIC are occupied Win the SeleCllOu OF IN
e plenipotentiaries. AS stated in these dis
$ patches late last night, it can now be re
d garded as settled that they will numbe
= three on each side. An important considers
: ton requiring adjustment is the desire o
{ each country TO appoint negouators O
equal rank, and this increases the proba
= bility that NJ. Witte, president OF the com
c mittee Of ministers, may be one Of the Rus
e zion plenipotentiaries If Japan names Mar
n quis Ito. president Of the privy council.
n is possible that NJ Neldoh, the Russia
ambassador at Paris, may not go 10 Wash
. ingron. AS dean Of the Russian diplo
J matte corps he was the first choice Of III
Foreign Office, but he is Of advanced ag
= and his health is not robust. Besides. N
Nelidon is an exceedingly bad sailor, an
II is still an open question whether he ma
not ask 10 be relieved Of his mission l
=, such an event il is considered certain ths
., Baron Rosen will be appointed.
- Emperor Nicholas has definitely appointe
= Grand Duke Nicholas Nicholasievitch. seC
n ond cousin 10 his majesty, 10 be presider
IS Of the council Of national defense.