The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-08-24
Roosevelt Steps Into Breach
to Prevent Peace Rupture.
HIS TASK DELICATE ONE
Portsmouth Negotiations Are Virtually
Transferred to st. Petersburg and
Tokio-Secret Conference
at Oyster Bay.


Suddenly the eyes of the nations have
been Turned by a mysterious midnight
dispatch from Portsmouth to Oyster
Bay from the peace plenipotentiaries
to the president Of the United States.
With the early departure Saturday
morning OF Baron Rosen for Oyster
Bay, President Roosevelt once more
became the central figure on the
worlds stage. The long message re-
ceived after midnight by Mr.. Pierce,
the assistant secretary OF state, was
from the president. 1t was an invita-
ton for Baron e.osen to come there
Immediately for a conference. The
invitation was to Russias ambassador
at Washington, because as Russia's
accredited representative to this coun-
try, it is entirely proper for the pres
ident at any time to summon him to
a conference.
President Roosevelt is exerting ev-
cry particle of his great influence to
prevent a rupture Of the peace confer
ence at Portsmouth.
In this effort he has the active and
cordial support Of Great Britain,
France. and Germany. Tremendous
and worldwide pressure is being
brought to bear ON the governments
at St. Petersburg and Toxic not to
permit the Washington conference 70
fail of affirmative result. After his
conference with the president, Baron
Rosen left Immediately for his sum-
mer home at Magnolia, Mass, where
he and Mr.. White, the plenipotentiary,
spent Sunday. Neither President
Roosevelt nor Baron Rosen would dis
c,.ss, even in the most general terms,
the details or result Of their confer
ence.
The Associated Press is able to an
uounce that the feature Of the prop
osition Of President Roosevelt COM
municated through Baron Rosen to Mr..
Witte and transferred by the latter to
Emperor Nicholas was based upon
the principle Of arbitration.
Whether the proposal contemplates
arbitration Of all the articles upon
which the plenipotentiaries have failed
to agree, or only upon the question OF
Indemnity, cannot be stated with pos
ttiveness, but it is more than proba-
BILE that it relates only to indemnity
or to indemnity and the cesslon OF
the island of Sakhalin.
Neither is it possible to say whether
the president has yet made similar
proposition to Japan.
To Emperor Nicholas, the author or
The Hague peace conference, the sug-
eestion Of arbitration which will nee
essarily Immediately command the
sympathy Of public opinion OF the
world will be particularly hard to re-
ieot. II he agrees, Japan, If she mas
not already done 80, will be al the
more bound to submit her clam to the
decision of an impartial arbitrator.
Acceptance by both sides would In
yolve a great extension OF the prln'
ciple Of arbitration as nations nave
heretofore declined to arbitrate ques'
ttons involving their "honor and dig
nifty"
According to current gossip, Baron
Kaneko told the president that japan
would yield upon Article X and Artl-
Gle XII. Tnas Japan would yield on
these two points, if Russia would &C.
cent V and VII Indemnity and SAX
hahn). is considered certain.
A St. Petersburg special, under Mon
DAVIS date, says: Russia's official at
titude regarding the final reply to be
made to Japan is unchanbed. The
impression prevails as heretofore that
only a very great concession on the
part of Japan on the question OF IN
demnity and the cession of Sakhal'H
will make peace possible.