The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-05
ROOSEVELT WANTS PEACE
Direct Plea to Russia and Japan 10
Cease Warning.
NEUTRAL POWERS ARE BARRED

vention-Mr. Roosevelt Learned That
Note on the Possibilities of a Peace.
full Settlement Would Ee Acceptable
to Both Powers Before He Sent 1t.
Washington, D. C.-The text of a
note sent by President Roosevelt to
the Russian and Japanese Govern
ments was made public at the White
House. This note was dispatched
through diplomatic channels as the re-
suit of the Presidents ;Iarious confer
ences with diplomats during the last
week and of cable messages inter-
changed with the two Governments
concerned. The note IS as follows:
"The President feels that the time
has come when in the interest of all
mankind he must endeavor to see if it
is not possible to bring 10 all end the
terrible and lamentable conflict now
being waged. With both Russia and
Japan the United States has inherited
ties of friendship and goodwill. It
hopes for the prosperity and welfare
of each, and it feels that the progress
Of the world is set back by the war
between these two great lations.
"The President accordingly urges the
Russian and Japanese Governments
not only for their w sakes but in
the interest of the whole civilized
world, to open direct negotiations for
peace with one another.
GUTha Drocidopt er0racfc thai f1oeo
peace negotiations be conducted d.
rectly and exclusively between the
belligerents; in other words, that there
be a meeting of Russian and Japanese
plenipoientiaries or delegates without
any intermediary, in order to see if it is
not possible for these representatives
of the two powers to agree to terms Of
peace.
"The President earnestly asks that
the %tJapanese) (Russian) Government
do now agree to such meeting, and is
nov asking the (Russian) (Japanese)
Government likewise to agree. While
the President does not feel that any
Intermediary should be called in in
respect to peace negotiations them
selves, he is entirely willing to do
what he properly can If the two pow
eys concerned feel that his services will
be of aid in arranging the preliminaries
as to the time and place of meeting.
"But even if these preliminaries can
be arranged directly between the two
powers, or in any other way, the Presi-
dent will be glad, as his sole purpose is
to bring about a meeting which the
whole civilized world will pray may
result in peace"
Before sending it the President had
ascertained that such a note would not
be offensive to either Government.
Japan Wants No Interference.
All efforts to learn Japan's peace
terms have been baked by the deter
mined opposition which Japan has pre-
scented to any such course. At every
stage of the negotiations she has abb
solutely assumed the position that she
could not admit the intercession Of any
other power nor present her peace
terms III any way except directly to
Russia. The Presidents identical note
is framed in accordance with this at
titude of Japan.
At the first attempt made by the
President to breach the subject Of
peace, q difficulty was found in the
suspicion with which Japan regarded
every attempt made by any other ma
ton than Russia to bring about peace.
The President learned that from the
very outset Of the war Japan had been
determined that the peace Of 1895,
when mediation robbed her Of the
fruits Of victory, should not be re-
pcated, and she was ready to look
askance at even the friendliest offers.
Three different cable messages have
come from Japan to Minister Takahira
in the last three days. In two of them
Japan's attitude on this question was
set forward with sufficient c~learness
to enable the President to frame his
note in connection with it.
Japan's final message on the subject
was delivered by Minister Takahira
after the Presidents departure. The
Minister arrived at the White House
in the afternoon with the message from
Toxic and Secretary Taft, as acting
head Of the Government, was at once
sent for. He came to the White House,
received Mr.. Takahira's message, and
communicated with the President by
telegraph. 1t was as a result Of that
communication that the President au-
thorized the publication Of the note.