The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-08-20
ROOSEVELT SAVED A CRISIS.
ALL HOPE SEEMED PAST BEFORE
NE SUMMONED ROSEN.

HE SUMMONED ROSEN.
Negotiations Had Como to = standstiii. and
IL Is Now Believed Russians Honestly
Thought war Weuid &c On Respsct
Ter America Is . strong Factor.
PORTSMOUTH. N. H., Aug. i0.--Tle status
OF the peaoe negotiations has not been
changed by the action Of President Rooss-
welt in supmoning Baron Rosen, one Of
the Russian plenipotentiaries. to Oyster
Bay, but the hope OF a auooessful outcome
has been greatly strengthened through
the Presidents decision not to stand silent
and idle IL the time came when his media
ton might be necessary to save the day
More than once It has been predicted
in tho Portsmouth dispatches to The Sun
that Mr.. Roosevelt would make final
effort to produce harmony between the
Russian and the Japanese ENJOYS II the
worst came to the worst, and that the pre-
diction has been verified has created no
surprise among those who were aware
how deeply he was concerned in the en-
deavor to secure a termination OF the Far
Eastern hostiities. His conference with
Baron Rosen to-day marks the beginning
of q supreme effort on tho 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 az correct; 1t u
apparent that unless the President sue
ceeds In bringing about favorable change
in the situation the war will go 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
Ia anxious to retain, and In this lies the
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 tho United States. expressed the
same views that he laid before Baron Rosen
OF the Russian mission in. their interview
to-day. 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 summonsd to Oyster Bay.
Those who are acquainted with the
Presidents earnest wish to prevent con-
tinuanos OF the Russian -Japanese War. and
who have some understanding Of his way OF
doing business, are confident that he has
not again assumed prominent part in the
effort to obtain peace without any prac-
tioal plan tn mind to accomplish the result
upon which he has set his heart.
That the President summoned Baron
Rosen merely to express to him the hops
that the conference would not adjourn with
out signing a treaty Of peace IL inconsistent
with Mr.. Roosevelt's methods. Naturally
the great influence he Yields in the affairs
Of the world as the President OF tbs United
States IL 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 President
to stop the bloody conflict in the Far East
that he will hardly be limited by what Some
people may consider to be the proper func-
ton OF neutral.
Mr.. Roosevelt has never paid much at
tention to preoedents- He said once that
he made his own preoedents and managed
to get along pretty we'll notwithstanding.
That he has some practical suggestions
to make to the peace ENJOYS or their govern
ments ia not to be doubted, and Baron
Rosen, it il reasonable TO suppose. carried
away from Oyster Bay a message that
contained moro than mere expression OF
hope on the part If the American Chief OF
State that the plenipotentiaries OF Russia
and Japan will make another effort to
ret together upon the point Of divergence
between them.
As the representative of Government
which, In spite Of its 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 prao-
tioal ways for Q settlement which he could
advance, and it is 10 be expected that hs
has gone about his work in practical way.
Tho prevailing opinion here Is that the
President is now In touch with the jap
anese Government, through Baron Kaneko.
to ascertain what concessions Japan would
be willing to mako TO secure a compromise
with Russia. That he has already asoer-
tanned them is quite probable, and II Is
suggested hero that his conference with
Baron Rosen will Be for tho purpose Of let
ting tho Russian envoy know what Japan
Is prepared TO offer.
But It 10 recalled that when the President
was endesvoring to persuade Russia and
Japan to hold . peaoe conference State
ments from> Europe that tho Kaiser was
opposed to the Presidents e6orts wsre
denied In an authoritative quarter In Wash
inston. While the source Of this authority
cannot be disclosed 1t u not improper TO
say that It was extremely high and couldn't
be disregarded. The declaration wss made
In tho quarter whence The demand emanated
that not only was tho Kaiser not opposed
to tho Presidents efforts toward peeoe but
H. l. - = H.l