Omaha daily bee., 1905-09-20
RUSSIA NOW READY TO ACT
In Such Light iS Announcement Of Peace
Conference Held in Washington.
DESIRED TowMT UNTIL AFTER END OF WAR
specihc Date for Meeting of Confer
ence VIII he Fixed After All
Powers Definitely Ac-
cept Invitation.

| WASHINGTON, Sept 1s.-"It seems to
the president that the high task under
| taken In seeking to bring about an agree
ment of the powers to meet in second
! peace conference is virtually accomplished
so far as it is appropriate for him to act,
and that, with the general acceptance Of
/ his invitation in principle the future con-
duct of the affair may htly follow its nor
NAL channels. To this end It is suggested
that the further and necessary interchange
| of views between the signatories of the
acts OF 1899 be effected through the inter-
| national bureau under the control of the
| permanent administrative council Of The
| Hague"
These words Of the late John Hay, writ
ten December 16 last, as an instruction to
the representatives OF the United States
accredited to the governments signatory
to The Hague convention embody the last
official action OF this government looking
to a breconvention Of The Hague confer
ence according to the records of the State
department. On October 21. 1904. Secretary
Hay, by direction Of the president in
vited the powers to a second conference,
fixing no date and suggesting an exchange
of views as to the subjects TO be copsid
cred. 1t was distinctly stated that the in
vttation was tentative. These exchanges
soon followed and on December 16 of the
same year Secretary Hay wrote:
The replies so far received indicate that
the proposition has been received with
general favor. No dissent has found ex-
preston. The replies of Japan and Russia
conveyed in like terms friendly recogni-
| tion of the spirit and purpose of the invi-
tation, but on the part of Russia the re-
ply was accompanied by the statement that
In the existing condition OF things in the
far east 1t would not be practicable for
| the imperial government at this moment to
take part In such a conference.
what Happened in Russia.
Therefore the president turned over to
| the administrative council the conduct OF
the further negotiations necessary to secure
| an enunciation of the views of the respec-
| tive powers to clear the way for the recon-
vention OF the conference. II is pointed out
that in doing this the president particularly
| looked to the government of the Neither
| lands to issue the call for the second con-
| ference and 1t is the present understanding
that this will be done. II is assumed that
what has happened In st. Petersburg is that
| the Russian government which, as above
noted caused the postponement of the sec
ond conference on account of the war, is
! now about TO remove the obstacle and
either has notified, or is about to notify
the administrative council that II is now
willing TO proceed to the second conference
The State department so far has not yet
been informed Of this decision, but is dis
posed TO accept the st. Petersburg advices
| as exclusive on that point. The next step
in order, II the normal course is followed
is definite acceptance by the powers of an
| invitation naming specific date for the
conference and this probably will contain
| reservations by most OF the powers with
the purpose of securing limitations of the
| program OF topics to be considered. This
may naturally be expected to consume
| many weeks, and perhaps months, so 1t is
| improbable that the second conference at
The Hague will meet before the next calen-
dar year.