The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1905-08-22
Elan F0R ENDING WAR
President Roosevelt Sugg ssts Arbi-
tgaton to Russia and Japan.
Envoy Witte, After Long Conference with
Rosen. Sends Report TO Czar-The
Toxic Cabinet Convenes.

Portsmouth, M Fl. rho question Of
peace now rests with The Car. He il
in possession of the proposal made by
President Roosevelt to Baron Rosen at
Oyster Bay. Before the President sub
mitted his proposition to the Russian
envoy he had obtained the assent of
the Japancse Government 70 the new
conditions and, therefore, there is
nothing iii the way of a peace treaty
now except the refusal of Emperor
Nicholas to let disputed articles of the
proposed peace agreement 90 to The
Hague tribunal for arbitration or to
some person or persons agreed upon to
settle the disputed points.
When President Roosevelt saw Baron
Rosen he informed hiEs that the Tekie
Government would modify its coEdi-
tons in respect of limiting the naval
power Of Russia In the Sea of Japan
and would withdraw III part it's de-
mand for the war vessels informed in
neutral harhors The question of in
demnity and the future ownership of
Sakhalicn Island, he said, could very
well be left to The Hague tribunal, a
court practically created by the Gar,
or to a similar body
This would permit the ENJOYS in
Portsmouth to sign a treaty Of peace
forthwith, postponing the settlement
of the two disputed articles, but bind
ing themselves to accept the decision
of The Hague Court The President
informed Baron Rosen there was no
doubt of Japar's acceptance, and.
therefore, there was no reason why
the war should continue. The Gar
stood for the principle of arbitration,
and the tremendous value of The
Hague Court could not be better proved
than in the settlement Of so weighty a
question. 1t is understood that Baron
Rosen thoroughly approved the plan,
ard perceived that 1t would solve all
the difficulties in Portsmouth, but he
expressed his fear that the Russian
Government might decline to recog-
niZc in any way, either through arbitra.
ton or otherwise, the proposition that
Japan is entitled to reimbursement.
The feature of the plan by President
Roosevelt, communicated through
Baron Rosen to Mr.. White and trans
mitted by the latter TO Emperor Mich.
olas. was based upon the principle of
arbitration. Whether the proposal CON
templates arbitration of all the articles
upon which the plenipotentiaries have
failed to agree, or only upon the qEes-
ton OF indemnity, cannot bestated with
rositiveness, but it is more than prob
able that ii relates only to indemnify,
or to indemnity and the ccssion Of the
Island of Sakhalien.
Neither is it possible to say whether
the President has yet made a similar
proposition to Japan, but the UNDER
standing is that he had Japan's full
assent before he discussed the propo-
sftion with Baron Rosen. The Gus
tomary diplomatic proceedings in such
case would be to submit the proposal
ultaneously to both countries, but
there might be an advantage in seeur-
ing the adherence of one before submit
ting it to the other. 10 Emperor Mich
olas, the author Of The Hague peace
conference. the suggestion Of arbitra-
ton, which Will necessarily immediate
ly command the sympathy or the public
opinion of the world will be particu-
larly hard TO reject.
II he agrees, Japan if she has not
already done so, would be all the more
bound to submit her claim TO the de-
cision of an impartial arbitrator. Ac-
ceptance by both sides would involve a
great extension Of the principle of ar
bitration, as nations have heretofore
declined to arbitrate questions inyolv-
ing their honor and dignity" Both
Mr. Takahira and Mr. White in the
earlier stages of the conference absoA
lutely rejected the idea Of arbitration,
1t is very significant that the Japan
csc Cabinet has convened at Toxic to
consider grave and urgent matters.