River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-08-24
PLEA FOR PEACE
BY PRESIDENT
RUSSIAN ENVOY SUMMONED TO
OYSTER BAY.
coNFERs WITH BARON RosEN
Mr.. Roosevelt, 1t Is Believed, Proposes
Method Which May Be Adopted
Great Secrecy Regard
ing Conference.

ing Conference.
Portsmouth N H., Aug. 21.-There
is good authority for announcing that
the feature of the proposition of Pres
ident Roosevelt communicated
through Baron Rosen to Mr.. Witte,
and transmitted by the latter to En-
peror Nicholas, was based upon the
principle of arbitration. Whether the
proposal contemplates arbitration Of
all the articles upon which the pleni-
potentiaries have failed to agree, or
only upon the question of indemnity
cannot be stated with postiveness, but
it is more than probable that it relates
only to indemnity, or to indemnity and
the cession of the island of Sakhalin.
Neither is it possible to say whether
the president has yet made a similar
proposition to Japan. The customary
diplomatic proceedings in such a case
would be to submit the proposal
simultaneously to both countries, but
there might be an advantage in secur-
ing the adherence of one before sub
hitting it to the other. To Emperor
Nicholas, the author of Hague peace
conference, the suggestion of arbitra-
ton which will necessarily immediate
ly command the sympathy of the pub
lie opinion of the world will be par
ticularyl hard to reject If he agrees,
Japan, if she has not already done so,
will be all the more bound to submit
her claim to the decision of an i'm
partial arbitrator. Acceptance by both
sides would involve great extension
of the principle of arbitration as ma
tions have heretofore declined to arbi-
trate questions involving their "honor
and dignity"
President as Peacemaker.
Oyster Bay, N. ", Aug. 21.-President
Roosevelt it is believed, has played his
trump card and averted a disastrous
ending of the peace conference at Ports
mouth, N. H. At the request of The
president Baron Rosen came to Oyster
Bay Saturday afternoon and had long
talk with Mr.. Roosevelt regarding the
status of the negotiations and the STUN
bling blocks that have stopped further
progress by the ENJOYS.
World Wide Pressure Used.
President Roosevelt has not been
alone in his efforts to bring about last
ing peace He has the active and cordial
support of Great Britain, France and
Germany Tremendous and worldwide
pressure is being brought to bear upon
the governments at st. Petersburg and
Toxic not to permit the Portsmouth
conference to fail of affirmative result.
Indemnity to Be Reduced.
The president believed and felt con-
WINGED, regardless of statements pub
lished to the contrary, that Russia has
resigned herself to the fact that she will
have to pay some indemnity. 1t is
thought, however, that through Baron
Kaneko he succeeded in persuading the
Japanese government to bring that in
demnity within the bounds of possib1i-
ity for Russia. The mikado's great re-
spect for the president is well known,
and he would be likely to concede to the
president what he never could bring
himself to concede to Russia without
outside suasion.
Speculation on Conference.
Through Assistant Secretary PIERCE
the president has been in constant touch
with the negotiations, and the secret
proposals he made to Baron Rosen it is
supposed he held in reserve against the
possibility of crisis such as came at
the close of Fridays session of the
conference. Mr. Roosevelt, in all prob
ability. pointed out to Baron Rosen that,
indemnity and all it will be cheaper in
the end for Russia to end the conflict
and devote herself to internal improve
ments and the development of her vast
resources; that the first thing Russia
should do is to build up navy
He pointed out that without a navy
the Island of Sakhalin, which Russia
declines to cede, is of small value and,
as according to the presidents idea, it
takes generation to build up a navy,
he probably suggested that Sakhalin
was not worth bothering about
Besides Sakhalin and the indemnity
ring to the transfer to Japan of the war
ships intened in the Pacific and the linn
itation of Russia's naval forces in Pa
cific waters These conditions, it is be-
lieved Baron Rosen put before the pres
ident as particularly bitter pills to swaI-
low. but the presidents proposal it is
believed, affects these points also in such
a way as to make them acceptable to
Russia.
Better Feeling.
The conference between himself and
Baron Rosen, that by arrangement was
to last 30 minutes, actually lasted an
hour and three-quarters. The presi-
dent was extremely earnest throughout,
and in the end it was known that he as
as well as the Russians were much more
cheerful. Baron Rosen declined to say
anything about the conference. He viii
lay the presidents suggestions before M
White. his senior. at Magnolia, Mass.
Baron Rosen's summer home, and NJ
White, in turn, will lay them by cable
before the car BY Tuesday, it is ex-
pected, when the conference reassembles
at Portsmouth. it will not break up, as
expected, but will have new matter to
discuss and will continue in session.
Peace Chances Improved.