The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
Hitch in Peace Negotiations
 is Not Serious
PRESIDENT USES GREAT TACT
St. Petersburg Government Agrees to Appoint Plenipotentlaries, But Advancement Is Tentative-The
 Hague Is Most Popular.

1 ism was discernable tonight in the tone of the discussion of the negotiations for
 peace in the far east. As far as is aseer-
 tanable at this time no permanent ground
 exists for the supposition tl at the nego- tiations are not proceeding faTorably. 1t is realized in both governmental and dip
 lomatic quarters that until the two bellig- erents actually are brought together on
 common basis of understanding. the possibility of a hitch must he taken into
 account
 Among members of the diplomatic corps
 the formal response of the Russian gov
 ernment to the Presidents appeal for
 cessation of hostilities was received with
 keen interest. It was made the subject of
 a conference at the White House today
 between the President and Minister Talxa-
 hira. The details of the conference were
 not disclosed, but tonight Minister Taka- | hira intimated strongly that the negotia-
 tions were proceeding smoothly.
 View is Too Optimistic. In other diplomatic quarters it was sug- gested that possibly too optimistic view
 of the situation generally was being taken. l This idea coupled with a call of M 1 JuSSefdnu, the frencn amDaSSauOr, at the | White House tonight led the rumor exten- l sively circulated that hitch in tho peace negotiations had actually occurred. NJ. | Jusserand returned tonight from West | Point where he went to deliver an address. | He found note at the embassy from | the President calling him to the White l House. He reached the Presidents home at 9:15 D. m. and remained with him un- | til Il o'clock. M. Jusserand when asked
 the direct question whether q hitch had occurred in the peace negotiations. re- | piled frankly that he had heard of none;
 adding that the question of peace was 1 not the principal subject of considera- ton at the conference. As far as he was 1 aware, he said. there had been no change l in the favorable status of the negotia- l tions. He also declined either to affirm l or to deny the accuracy of the sugges- ton that the Moroccan question was un- | der discussion
 Will Require Presidents Tact. l Notwithstanding the lateness of the hour of M. Jusserands departure from
 tho White House. information concerning his conference with the President exert ed lively interest, especially among mem- bers of the diplomatic corps. The belief is expressed that no difficulties have arisen which would amount to a hitch or which could not be smoothed out with
 tact on the part of the President.
 Direct communication between St. Pe- tersburg and Tokio has not yet been es- tablished. The White House Is yet the medium for all communications between the two capitals. Important details re- main to be agreed upon before the plen- l ipotentiaries of the belligerents can meet
 to discuss the means of ending the war. | There is adequate authority for the state
 ment that there is no actual hitch in the l preliminary negotiations. Progress is be- | ing made. but It may be several days or even longer before all details for the
 meeting can be definitely fixed. diplo-
 mat explained the situation tonight when 1 he said optimists had succeeded in get
 ting ahead of the actual status quo of | the negotiations.
 These optimists," he added, naturally l become alarmed when they find that the | negotiations are not keeping pace with | their predictions, and straightway they
 announce a hitch in the negotiations" Agreement Is Tentative. 1 Russia regards her consent to appoint | plenipotentaries to discuss means of end
 ing the war as tentative arrangement
 Although the word plenipotentiaries is used in the Russian reply, 1t Is under
 stood their appointment does not commit
 Russia to any pledge to end the war.
 Russas object in appointing these fully
 empowered envoys Is to find out whether
 Russia can obtain from Japan peace terms Whcn RuSsla can accept.
 Japan is cautious. although she too,
 has accepted the Presidents proposal Negotiations have progressed far enough for the belligerents to be discussing through the President as the channel of communication, suitable place, the num- Der of negotators and hat Is more i'm portant than either of these, a common basis upon which the plenipotentiarfes may meet.
 Russia was thoroughly opposed to the
 suggestion of any place fin the far east
 for meeting point and 1t Is not believed
 that Japan's opposition to Paris was at all unexpected in St. Petersburg. Rus
 sa has shown strong preference for an
 European capital. Japans wish Is to cure point free from outside influences
 Direct negotiations with Russia has been
 her demand throughout and hence her
 original preference for point in the
 far east The Hague, 1t Is believed. will
 prove fairly acceptable to both.