The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-20
TINE FOR NEUTRALS TO ACT.
ROOSEVELT,S EFFORTS TO SAVE
PEACE CONFAB FROM FAILURE.
ENJOYS Of the TIVE warning Natieas ~
. standsttli--President q the United
States Making His Own Preccdents
-Ksiser ID the>Backer Of the President.

States Making His Own Precodents
--Ksiser ID the>Backer Of the President.
PORTSMOUTH, N. H., Aug. 1e-The status
Of the peace negotiations has not been
changed by the action Of President Roose-
welt in summoninR Baron Rosen, one OF
the Russian plenipotentiaries, to Oyster
Bay, but the hope OF successful outcome
has been greatly strengthened through
the Presidents decision not to stand silent
and idle II the time came when his media
ton might be necessary to save the day.
More than once it has been predicted
in the Portsmouth dispatches to THE Sun
that Mr.. Roosevelt would mako a final
effort to produce harmony between the
Russian and the Japanese ENJOYS If the
worst came to the worst, and that the pre-
diotion has been verified has created no
surprise among those who were aware
how deeply he was concerned in the en-
deavor to secure termination OF the Far
Eastern hostilties. His conference with
Baron Rosen tonight marks the beginning
Of supreme effort on the Presidents part
to bring success out OF the Portsmouth
conference.
Although the center OF interest and i'm
portance In connection with the negotia-
tons has been transferred for the time
being from Portsmouth to Sycamore Hill,
enough developed here to-day to confirm
the impression that the Russians are honest
in their declarations that they regarded
the conference as having virtually ended
with the session Of yesterday.
Accepting their view as correct. 1t is
apparent that unless the President sue
ceeds in bringing about a favorable change
in the situation the war will 60 on, provided
always, however, that the Japanese are
not withholding until the very last some
great surprise that will serve to prevent
the conference from being an utter failure
To those who earnestly desire peace
there is much cause for hope in the knowl-
edge that Japan regards America as one OF
her best friends, whose good opinion she
Is anxious to retain. and in this lies tho
likelihood that Mr. Roosevelt may succeed
In securing from the Mikado sufficient con-
ceesions to Russia to prevent break in the
negotiations.
No reasonable person can doubt that
the President, in his conference yesterday
with Baron Kaneko the Japanese financial
agent in the United States, expressed the
same views that he laid before Baron Rosen
Of the Russian mission in their interview
this evening. Baron Kaneko appears to
be the Presidents unofficial channel Of COM
munication with the Government at Toxic,
and this apparently accounts for the fact
that no member OF the Japanese peace en-
courage was summoned to Oyster Bay.
Those who are acquainted with tho
Presidents earnest wish to prevent a con-
tinuance Of the Russian-Japanese War. and
who have some understanding of his way OF
doing business, are confident that he has
not again assumed q prominent part In the
effort to obtain peace without any prao-
tical plan in mind to accomplish the result
upon which he has set his heart.
That the President summoned Baron
Rosen merely to express to him the hope
that the conference would not adjourn with
out signing treaty Of peace Is inconsistent
with Mr. Roosevelt's methods. Naturally
the great influence he Yields in the affairs
of the world as the President Of the United
States Is sufficient to cause other nations
to give careful and respectful attention to
whatever suggestions he may bring to their
attention. But 30 determined Is the Presi-
dent to stop the bloody conflict in China
that he will hardly be limited by what some
people may consider to be the proper funo-
ton Of a neutral.
Mr.. Roosevelt has never paid much at
tention to presidents. He said once that
he made his own precedents and managed
to get along pretty we'll notwithstanding.
That he has some practical suggestions
to make to the peace ENJOYS or their govern
nents is not to be doubted, and Baron
Rosen, it Is reasonable to suppose, will
carry away from Oyster Bay a message
that will contain more than a mere eX.
preston Of hope on the part Of the American
Chief of State that the plenipotentiaries
OF Russia and Japan will make another
effort to get together upon the point Of
divergence between them.
As the representative OF a Government
which, in spite Of it's belief in the justice
OF the cause Of one belligerent has observed
a neutrality of the most correct character
between both Of them, President Roosevelt
is in position to do wonders in the direo-
ton OF breaking the present seemingly
hopeless deadlock. There are many prac-
teal ways for q settlement which he could
advance, and 1t Is to he expected that he
has gone about his work in practical way.
The prevailing opinion here is that tho
President is now in touch with the Jap.
anese Government, through Baron kaneko.
to ascertain what concessions Japan would
he willing to make to secure compromise
with Russia. That he has already asoer-
tanned them is quite probable, and 1t IL
suggested here that his conference with
Baron Roeen will be for the purpose Of lot.