The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-17
RUSSIA TO SEND NEuOOFF
JAPAN TO SEND MARQUISITO
Mr.. Takahira May Be Made PlenIpos
tentiary or He May Be Named
as Ranking Advisor
for Japan.

Washington. June 16.-Alone on tina
plains of Manchuria midway between the
two great armies the Russian and Japa-
nese commanders will meet TO sign the
armistice which will pave the way for
the Washington conference If the pres
ent tentative programme is followed.
Exchanges on this point are now In
progress between Toxic and ST. Peters
burg via Washington, but no final con-
clusion has been reached. 1t was first
thought preliminary protocol might
be signed at Washington pending a tem-
porary cessation of hostilities but In view
of the fact that this concerns directly
the armies in the field, 1t is believed the
belligerents will agree that arrangements
OF the armistice be best entrusted te
Linevitch and Oyama, the respective COM
manders in chief, who in such event would
be telegraphed special powers To sign
The time limit for the armistice has noh
been fixed but 1t will be comparatively
brief that the progress of the confer
ence may be assisted as much as pos.
sble.
viii Be Headed BY Neldoff.
Erior TO the signing OF an armlstice
ment of the Russian and Japanese pleni-
potentaries. Russia has indicated that her
mission will be headed by M Nelidoff,
the Russian ambassador at Paris, and
1t is understood the Japanese mission, al
it is understood the japanese Emperor
has requested Marquis Ito TO head the
Japanese mission, although the dislin-
gl.ished president of the privy council.
50 far as known here, has not iinaily ac-
ceited. Only his health would cause him
| to decline in which event Field Marshal
YGmagata probably would be selected In
| his place.
Neither country has suggested the
/ names of the other plenipotentaries nor
has the number been agreed upon, al
| though the belief tonight is that there
will be three on side. With Marquis
| Ito, it Is believed there will come an
other great statesman of Japan, who
have had wide diplomatic experience and
Mr. Takahira, the Japanese minister, it
is suggested here, may be named as the
THIRD plenipotentiary. III the entire mis-
sion Is selected at Toxic the ambassador
| a, Washington win Undoubtedly be desig-
mated the ranking adyisor of the mis-
sion The selection of Mr.. Takahira as
one of her plenipotentiarles would be
distinctly acceptable to the officials here.
Should M. Takahira be placed on the
mission the chances are that NJ Neldoff
will be accompanied by a second pen-
potentiary from Russia and would be
Joined In Washington by Baron Rosen.
the new Russian ambassador who Will
sail for this country June 2S and who
through his two tours Of duty at Toxic
is thoroughly faimiar with Asatic poll
| tics. 1t Is said moreover that with the
exception of General Kuropatkin few
Russians possess the confidence OF tho
Japanese to greater degree than Baron
! Rosen
May Use English Language.
! Another important detail which has
been the subject of informal CONVERSE
tions at the White House Is the language
to be used at the conference. Russia will
, ask that the French language be used.
Japan will express a preference for Eng
! lish and in recognition of the courtesies
: to be extended the plenipotentiaries by
! the Washington government diploma lists
! believe that the English language VIII be
/ used Jointly with French the proceed
/ ings of the conference being recorded In
! both languages. Had the conference
been held In Europe, French undoubtedly
! would have been used on the ground
| that it is there recognized as the dipbo-
matte tongue The United States how
| ever has never so recognized 1t. This
! government Insisted on the use of Eng
! though French was also used by some
of the representatives.
No date has yet been fixed for the
convenng Of the conference. There are
many official papers, copies Of which
must be furnished TO the plenipotentiaries.
The copying itself will require some
weeks Before leaving their respective
capitals the Russian and japanese mis-
sion will be received by the sovereigns
and handed their credentials. The ex-
change of these powers will constitute
the initial formality after the plenipoten-
tiaries enter the conference room.
Diplomatically this has been the quiet
est day i'm Washington for two weeks.
No diplomats saw the President today
and discussion of peace at the White
House was limited to the informal con-
versation at the cabinet meeting when
the President was warmly congratulated
on the results of his efforts for peace.