The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-08-24

ABLY contained the reply 10 the FreSl-
dent. This reply, it is believed, was
prepared by Mr.. White and Baron De
Rosen after Mr.. Peirce had delivered
to /<am the Presidents message. A
suggestion is made that during the
stay at the navy yard the Russian
plenipotentiaries were in direct COM
munication with the President by tele
graph, but there is nothing to sub
stantiate this and under the circum-
stances it appears unlikely.
Mr.. Roosevelt's message to Mr..
White and Baron De Rosen is believed
to have been the result of his inter-
view yesterday at oyster Bay with
Baron Kaneko of Marquis Ito's close
friends, who has acted as the Presi-
dents medium of communication with
the Toxic government.
Messages to the Gar.
A story was in circulation at the
hotel this afternoon TO the effect that
Baron Kaneko's secretary, Mr.. Saki,
was here in communication with the
Japanese plenipotentiaries and also
with Mr.. PIERCE, but investigation de-
veloped the fact that although Mr..
Saki had been here a week ago he
was not here today. 1t has been as
certained here that in addition to the
-
White through Baron De Rosen last
Sunday and by messengers today mes
sages directly to Emperor Nicholas
have been delivered by Ambassador
Meyer at st. Petersburg, but no Off
cial confirmation is obtainable. The
general disposition was to regard to-
days swift and Kaleidoscope de-
velopments as materially Frightening
the chances of the success of the
Presidents heroic endeavor to save
the peace conference from failure. But
it was realized that all as before de-
pended upon the attitude of Emperor
Nicholas and his advisors. Mr. White,
it is positively stated, personally ia
vors the solution offered by the Presi-
dent, but he is poWerless unless his
imperial master gives the word. With
the most intense anxiety, that word
was awaited. 1t spells peace or war.
Another slight furry was created
tonight by the arrival of Colonel Mi
chael, the chief clerk of the State
Department. He had come in re-
Spouse to a summons from Mr.. Peirce
and Colonel Michael stated that the
visit was only i'm connection with the
routine business of the department.
Statement by PIERCE.
Mr.. Peirce, the third assistant Sec
rotary of state, tonight issued the fol-
lowing statement:
NO envoy or representative of the
President had any conference with
Mr.. White or Baron Rosen today nor
did / have any conference with either
of them, nor was l closeted with them
They had business at the navy yard
and my duties required me to be pres
ent at the yard to make suitable ar
rangements for their comfort But
in no way, shape or manner did have
a conference with them on behalf Of
the President in relation to their nego-
tiatiOnS with Japan.
MIR. White and Baron De Rosen had
intended to remain longer in the navy
yard, in consequence of which l had
luncheon prepared for them, but ow-
ing to a arrangement of the stomach
from which he had been suffereing
for several days, Mr.. White being un-
der the care of a physician at the
Wentworth, deemed it inadVisable to
remain for luncheon at the yard and
therefore took his departure at an ear
lier hour than usual, leaving some of
his secretaries who continued their
work in the conference building until
$780,"
Work on the Protocol.
The protocol is being prepared in
French by Mr.. Plancon, one of the
Russian secretaries, in collaboration
with the Japanese secretaries, who
make an English translation of the
document. The protocol is TO be q
faithful photograph of the proceed
ings, showing in condensed form the
arguments advanced on each side in
support of the position taken by each
on the different articles. When the
Japanese take an exception to the
verbiage employed by Mr.. Plancon the
exact words to be used are agreed tO
by them, and if an issue arises which
they cannot adjust it is referred to the
respective chiefs. Baron Komura and
Mr.. White. All has thus far gone
smoothly. Should treaty eventually
cgreed upon it will be written in
French with an English copy attach
ed But the French text will be the
document signed and will govern in
case of dispute over Interpretation.
A plan for compromising the diff
ferences between the plenipotentiaries
on article 5 (Sakhalin) has been sug.
gested. 1t contemplates the restora-
ton of the status quo existing before
1875, when Russia held the northern
aad japanese the southern part OF
the island. This. it is cOntcnded
should satisfy the national claims oil
Japan and at the same time relieve
Russia of the danger of an invasion
of the mainland. which. it is declared
by the Russians. would exist if the
island were in the full possession OF
the JapaneSe. Such n solution, OIL
course, would involve some sort of {
mixed commission to delimit the
frontier, which was never definitely
fixed. This suggestion in the GOSSIP
is attributed to President Roosevelt
but no evidence is offered to supper
such suppoSition Mr.. Bryant
chaninoff, correspondent of the st
Petersburg Slovo is advocating thi!
compromise in his dispatches.